Of the following organisms which has the highest conservation priority?

Options

A. A plant found on North America and in Europe
B. A plant endemic to Australia
C. A plant found on the Galapagos islands and in Brazil
D. A plant found world wide

Answer

To determine which organism has the highest conservation priority among the given options, we need to analyze each option based on its risk of extinction and its geographical distribution. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

### Step 1: Understand Conservation Priority
Conservation priority refers to the importance of protecting certain species based on their risk of extinction. Species that are endemic (found only in a specific location) or have a limited distribution are generally given higher conservation priority because their loss would mean extinction from that area.

### Step 2: Analyze the Options
1. **A plant found in North America and Europe**: This plant is likely to be an exotic species. Exotic species can thrive in multiple locations, so their extinction in one area does not necessarily threaten their overall existence.

2. **A plant endemic to Australia**: This plant is found only in Australia. If it goes extinct there, it will not be found anywhere else. Therefore, it has a high conservation priority.

3. **A plant found on Galapagos Island and in Brazil**: This plant is not restricted to a single location. Similar to the first option, it has a broader range and is less at risk of extinction.

4. **A plant found worldwide**: This plant is also an exotic species and is not at risk of extinction since it exists in many locations around the globe.

### Step 3: Determine the Highest Conservation Priority
Based on the analysis:
- The plant endemic to Australia is the only one that is at significant risk of extinction if it disappears from its native habitat. Therefore, it should be given the highest conservation priority.

### Conclusion
The organism with the highest conservation priority is the **plant endemic to Australia**.

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