Biodiversity is richer in

Biodiversity is not distributed evenly across the globe; it is consistently richer in tropical regions [1]. This phenomenon, known as the latitudinal diversity gradient, describes the decline in species richness from the equator toward the poles. Tropical environments are often considered both a 'cradle' and a 'museum' of biodiversity because they are ancient, occupy large areas, and have warm, stable climates that allow for the accumulation of species over time. In contrast, as one approaches polar regions, there are larger populations of fewer species [2]. While oceans contain significant life, the highest concentration of species diversity is found in tropical terrestrial and marine ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests and coral reefs [3]. Factors like higher kinetics due to temperature and ecological productivity contribute to the tropics being mega-diversity centers [2].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 14: Biodiversity and Conservation > BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION > p. 115
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 14: Biodiversity and Conservation > CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY > p. 118
3. [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4320694/