Western Ghats of India have been identified as a Biodiversity Hotspot based on:

Correct option is C

The Western Ghats is recognized as a Biodiversity Hotspot primarily due to its richness of flowering plant species, which includes a large number of endemic species. Biodiversity hotspots are regions that are exceptionally rich in biodiversity and have significant numbers of endemic species under threat due to habitat loss or other human activities.
In the case of the Western Ghats:
· The region harbors a significant number of flowering plant species, many of which are unique to this area.
· The presence of diverse habitats such as forests, grasslands, and swamps contributes to this richness.
While the Western Ghats is also rich in amphibians, mammals, and other fauna, the criterion for its designation as a biodiversity hotspot is the richness of flowering plant species.
· Biodiversity Hotspots are regions that must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics and must have lost at least 70% of their original habitat.
· The Western Ghats, along with the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands), are biodiversity hotspots in India.
· The Western Ghats is home to more than 7,400 species of plants and animals, with many flowering plants being endemic.
Key Points: 1. Biodiversity Hotspots are regions that must have at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics and must have lost at least 70% of their original habitat.
2. The Western Ghats, along with the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands), are biodiversity hotspots in India.
3. The Western Ghats is home to more than 7,400 species of plants and animals, with many flowering plants being endemic.
Additional Knowledge: · The concept of Biodiversity Hotspots was first proposed by Norman Myers in 1988.
· Endemism refers to species that are found only in a specific region and nowhere else.
· The Western Ghats is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its ecological significance.
· Other notable features of the Western Ghats:
· It is one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity in the world.
· High levels of species diversity are observed due to its unique topography and climatic conditions.