SCIENCE8

Quarter 4 WEEK 4 - Module 4 Species Diversity

What’s In
Activity 1: Match Up!
Directions: Match the words/phrases in column A to column B. Write the correct letter of
your answer on the space provided before the number.

Column A Column B
1. These are group of organisms that appear A. Species richness
identical by morphological (anatomical)
criteria.
2. It refers to the variety of habitats, living in B. Species diversity
communities and ecological processes
where organisms live.
3. It refers to the variety of species in a given C. Ecosystem diversity
area.
4. It refers to the diversity of the genetic D. Genetic diversity
characteristics within a species.
5. It refers to the relative abundance of E. Species
species.
6. It is defined as the number of species and F. Species abundance
abundance of each species that live in a
particular.
7. These are group of organisms that exploit G. Genetic concept of
or are adapted to a particular niche. species
8. A group of organisms that can H. Morphological concept
successfully interbreed and produce fertile of species
offspring.
9. It defines species as a group of organisms I. Ecological concept of
that are genetically compatible, species
interbreeding natural populations that is
genetically isolated from other such
groups.
10. It defines species as a series of ancestor J. Evolutionary concept of
descendent populations passing through species
time and space independent of other
populations.

1
What’s New

Activity 2: Species or Not?

Direction: Using the definition of species stated below, answer the three cases descriptions
and give your reasons.

Species definition:
“A group of organisms that can interbreed with others of the same type and can
produce fertile offspring; individuals within a species possess similar anatomical
characteristics.”
BSCS Biology: An Ecological Approach, 10th edition
Case 1. Is a liger a separate species from the lion and tiger?
Note: A liger is the offspring of a female tiger and a male lion

Source: https://bigcatrescue.org/liger-facts/

Case 2: Is a wholphin a separate species from the dolphin and killer whale?
Note: Wholphin is rare cetacean hybrid born from a mating of a female common
bottlenose dolphin with a male false killer whale

Source: http://www.wikipedia.com
Case 3: Is the mule a separate species from the horse and donkey?
Note: A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse

Source: https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/individual-liberty-miscellaneous/labor-day-salute-missouri-mule

Activity 3: Count Me In!

Directions: Read the procedures below, fill in the table with the correct data and answer the
questions that follows.

1. Look at the illustration below. It shows two different communities of trees.

 Community 1 Community 2

2. Answer the table using the given image above. Write the species of trees present
in each community and count the number of each species.

Community 1 Community 2
Number of Tree species Number of
Tree species
species species

Total number of trees: Total number of trees:

Note: Species richness describes the number of different species present in an

area (more species = greater richness). Species evenness describes the relative
abundance of the different species in an area (equal numbers of each species =
greater evenness)
Guide questions:

1. How many species of trees present in community 1 and 2?

2. Which of the two community is more diverse in terms of the number of species of
trees?

3. Which of the two community has even and uneven distribution of species?

What Is It
Aside from humans that inhabiting the Earth, there are different types of organisms
that you can see around us, there are mammals like dogs and cats; insects such as spiders
and ants, birds like chickens and doves; and plants from fruit bearing trees to flowering plants.
However, we tend to group species according to their appearance only, where in fact there
are different basis in identifying them, whether it is of the same species or a separate one.
In early 1700’s, scientist idea about species was based on their direct observable
difference in terms of their appearance, it was then defined as group of organism with similar
physical characteristics. Later on, species became the fundamental unit of taxonomic
classification. However, when scientist learned about evolution, their concept about species
has changed. They now know that some organism with identical physical traits are of different
species while other that appear different are of the same species.
At present, there are several definition and concept of species. But the widely used
definition of species is the biological concept of species. It was first proposed by Ernst Mayr
in 1942, his concept begins with the idea that species is a population of individuals that
can actually or can potentially breed with each other in nature to produce fertile
offspring. Members of different populations mate but produce no fertile offspring or very rarely
breed with each other, they are considered to be different species. For example, all dogs are
capable of interbreeding, biologists consider all dogs to be members of the same species.
However, if horses and donkeys mate, they produce mule, but mules are sterile and cannot
continue to interbreed. Therefore, horses and donkeys are not members of the same species.
These rules consider animals to be different species if they cannot breed together or if they
breed together and produce infertile offspring, meaning offspring that cannot have their own
babies

Species Diversity
The term “Biodiversity” is coined from words, biological and diversity. It refers
to the variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem. Biodiversity comprises of
three levels:
 Ecological diversity – it refers to the variety of habitats, living in communities and
ecological processes where organisms live and their interconnections.
  Genetic diversity – it refers to the diversity of the genetic characteristics within a
species.
 Species diversity – it refers to the number of different species present in an
ecosystem and relative abundance of each of those species.
 Diversity is greatest when all the species present are equally abundant in the
area. There are two components of species diversity namely:
 Species richness: refers to the number of different species present in an
ecosystem.
Species evenness – refers to the relative abundance of individuals of each of
those species. If the number of individuals within a species is fairly constant across
communities, it is said to have a high evenness and if the number of individuals varies
from species to species, it is said to have low evenness. High evenness leads to
greater specific diversity.

High species diversity doesn’t always mean high species richness and high
species evenness. It is also possible in an ecosystem to have high species richness
but low species evenness. For instance, there are large number of different species
which means high species richness but only few numbers of each species which
means low species evenness. On the contrary, it could be only few species organisms
(low species richness) but has large number of each species (high species evenness)

Importance of Species Diversity

Maintaining high species diversity will lead to more efficient, productive and
sustainable ecosystem.

 A more diverse ecosystem, has greater ability to withstand environmental stresses

 High species richness makes an ecosystem able to respond to any disaster.
 Rich diversity is important for the survival of mankind
 Healthy biodiversity has significant benefits like nutrients storage and recycling, soil
formation and protection from erosion, absorption of harmful gases, climate stability
 Pollinators, symbiotic relationships, decomposers, each species perform a unique
role, which is irreplaceable.
 Diversity in large numbers help in large scale interaction among organisms such as
in the food web.

Apart from these, there are other benefits such as recreation and tourism, education and
research

What’s More
Activity 4: Are we related?
Directions:
1. Look at the following illustration and read each situation.
2. With your knowledge about the biological concept of species, identify if
each organism is of the same species and state your reason. Write your
answer on the space provided.
1. The Western Meadowlark (left) and the Eastern Meadowlark (right) appear
morphologically identical. However, geography and songs serve as reproductive
barriers to interbreeding. Are the two birds belonging to the same species?

Source: https://www.ck12.org/c/biology/species/lesson/What-is-a-Species- Advanced- BIO-ADV/

2. A donkey has 62 chromosomes, whereas a horse has 64. Hinnies, being hybrids of
those two species, have 63 chromosomes and are in the majority of cases sterile. Is
donkey and horse a separate species?

Source: https://www.maulesel.info/Bildergalerie_molly_hinny.htm
3. Cheetah and hippopotamus are both mammals that live in African continent. Are
they of the same species?

Source: https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2019.00113

Activity 5: Count me in version 2

Directions: Study the picture below, describe the two communities in terms of species

richness and species evenness.

Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/8232916/
Summary
In this module we have learned that:

1. A species is a group of organisms that share a genetic heritage, are able to interbreed,
and to create offspring that are also fertile.
2. There are four species concepts namely: morphological concept of species, genetic
concept of species, ecological concept of species and the widely used biological
concept of species
3. According to the biological concept of species, organisms belong to the same species
if they can interbreed to produce viable, fertile offspring.
4. The major limitations of the biological species concept are that it is inapplicable to: (1)
fossil species; (2) organisms reproducing asexually or with extensive self-fertilization;
and (3) sexual organisms with open mating systems (species that freely hybridize).
5. Biodiversity has three levels: Ecological/ecosystem diversity, genetic diversity and
species diversity.
6. Species diversity is defined as the number of species and abundance of each species
that live in a particular location.
7. There are two components of species diversity: species richness is the number of
different species present and species evenness is a measure of the relative
abundance of the different species making up the richness of an area.
POST TEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer.

1. What concept of species you are using if you see two organisms that are closely of
the same physical appearance and are capable of interbreeding?
A. Genetic concept of species
B. Biological concept of species
C. Ecological concept of species
D. Morphological concept of species
2. What level of biodiversity is most commonly equated with the different kinds of
organisms?
A. Genetic diversity C. Ecosystem diversity
B. Species diversity D. Morphological diversity
3. Which of the following choices correctly describes the biological concept of species?
A. This concept does not apply to asexual organisms.
B. Members of a species have a single gene pool.
C. Members of the same species can interbreed.
D. All of these choices describe the biological species concept correctly.
4. Which of the following explains species richness?
A. It is the number of species in the community.
B. It is the number of endangered species in a community.
C. It is the number of resources each species has in a community.
D. It is the number of species in a community and how they are distributed
among other species.
5. Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?
A. It increases at each level of the food chain.
B. It helps populations adapt to ecological changes.
C. It is the number of resources each species has in a community.
D. It is the number of species in a community and how they are distributed
 among other species.
6. Which of the two communities is species richness greater: Community A with 50
species that can all be found equally within 10 km radius of the area or community B
spread across the same area that has 50 species also but 5% of the individuals are
very rare species?
A. Community B with rare species.
B. Community A where species can be found equally.
C. Species richness is the same in both communities.
D. There is not enough information given to answer the question.
7. What do you call the variety of different kinds of organisms in a community?
A. Genetic diversity C. Ecosystem diversity
B. Species diversity D. Morphological diversity
8. Which of the following community has the highest species evenness?
Species Community 1 Community 2 Community 3 Community 4
Ant 20 25 15 20
Beetle 15 1 15 20
Grasshopper 12 1 15
Earthworm 1 15 20
Millipede 10 15
A. Community 1 C. Community 3
B. Community 2 D. Community 4
9. Using the same information in number 8, which of the following community has the low
species evenness?
A. Community 1 C. Community 3
B. Community 2 D. Community 4
10. Look at the picture, which of the following statement is true.
A. It shows rare species.
B. It has low species evenness.
C. It has high species evenness.
D. It shows unequal distribution of species.

For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Department of Education – Division of Gingoog City

Office Address: Brgy. 23, National Highway,Gingoog City
Telefax: 088 328 0108/ 088 328 0118
E-mail Address: gingoog.city@deped.gov.ph