Biodiversity

At the end of this chapter, the student will be able to:

1. Educate the students regarding the core of biodiversity.

2. Update the students regarding the status of Philippine biodiversity.
3. Encourage students to participate in the conservation of Philippine
biodiversity.

Biodiversity is both what makes our planet beautiful, and what keeps it running accordingly. The
term “biodiversity” comes from “biological diversity,” and refers to the variety of life on Earth at
all levels.
Biodiversity is defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources
including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which
they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”
It plays a crucial role in human nutrition through its influence on world food production, as it
ensures the sustainable productivity of soils and provides the genetic resources for all crops,
livestock, and marine species harvested for food.
The main threats facing biodiversity globally are: destruction, degradation and
fragmentation of habitats, reduction of individual survival and reproductive rates through
exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species.
Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. For
example, species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a wide
variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease, and climate
change.

Why biodiversity is so important to all life, human life, and the planet?
1. Biodiversity plays a crucial role in climate change. Maintaining and sustaining
biodiversity hold the average global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius. The less the
planet warms, the less impact to climate change.
2. Biodiversity plays a big role in access to things. All of our food, medications, pollination
sources, and soil have to come from somewhere. The more biodiversity there is, the more
 access to these different types of products and services. Loss of biodiversity could lead to
loss of a certain type of food or even medication.
3. Biodiversity has become an integral piece in the fabric of different cultures. Just as the
coqui (a type of frog with a distinct chirp that only naturally exists in Puerto Rico) has
become a beloved symbol for the island, people in Alaska have come to rely on the meat
of moose and caribou. “It is not just about diet; it is about symbolism and functionality as
well. In fact, 231
4. different species are used as national symbols in 142 different countries.

Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives. Put
simply, reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are
more vulnerable to pests and disease, and where fresh water is in irregular or short supply. 

What are the three types of biodiversity?

Biodiversity itself has three subcomponents; the three main types of biodiversity are ecological
diversity, genetic diversity, and species diversity,

Ecological Diversity

It refers to the “intricate network of different species present in local ecosystems and the
dynamic interplay between them.”
An ecosystem is a collection of living and non-living organisms and their interaction with
each other. Ecological biodiversity is the variations in the plant and animal species living
together and connected by food chains and food webs.
It is the diversity observed among the different ecosystems in a region. Diversity in
different ecosystems like deserts, rainforests, mangroves, etc., include ecological diversity.
As part of biodiversity, different organisms have to learn how to live and work together
within a specific ecosystem. This takes into consideration how these different species affect each
other in the way of matter, nutrients, and even energy. Ecological diversity focuses on how these
different organisms in the same ecosystem interact with one another, and how they either
positively or negatively affect each other.
Genetic Diversity

Genetic Diversity means the variations between individuals of the same species, and
characteristics passed down between parents and offspring (e.g. Brown hair, Blue eyes etc.).
It refers to the variations among the genetic resources of the organisms. Every individual
of a particular species differs from each other in their genetic constitution. That is why every
human looks different from each other. Similarly, there are different varieties in the same species
of rice, wheat, maize, barley, etc.
Some species, of course, are more genetically alike than others, which is why there is a
similarity drawn between monkeys and humans.
According to About Bio Science, “The more closely related any two species are, the more
genetic information they will share, and the more similar they will appear.” Hence the ape
looking, acting, and even speaking (a type of sign language) similar to humans.
But not all species are genetically similar. After all, how many genetic similarities could
a human share with a slug? That’s exactly the point or definition, really, of what genetic diversity
is. Throughout the planet, there must be genetic diversity. Especially because genetically similar
species tend to mate. A horse is not exactly the same as a mule, per say; they are two separate
types of animals. However, they can mate — that’s how we get donkeys. Another example is a
liger, the genetic byproduct of a tiger and lion mating together.

As About Bio Science explains, “Species diverge and develop their own peculiar attributes with
time, thus making their own contribution to biodiversity.”

Species Diversity
Species diversity refers to the variety of different types of species found in a particular area. It is
the biodiversity at the most basic level. It includes all the species ranging from plants to different
microorganisms.
No two individuals of the same species are exactly similar. For example, humans show a
lot of diversity among themselves. 
 Within a specific habitat or region, different species can coexist. “Species are the basic
units of biological classification and thus the normal measure of biological diversity.”

For example, in a pond, there are a lot of species that could be found. That would include frogs,
mosquitoes, tadpoles, insects, fungi and microbes.

The Earth is estimated to have anywhere from five to 10 million different species. That is
why species diversity is an important part of biodiversity; the more species that live and co-exist
in one area, the more biodiverse that area is, therefore the more biodiverse the ecosystem is.

Importance Of Biodiversity
Biodiversity and its maintenance are very important for sustaining life on earth. A few of the
reasons explaining the importance of biodiversity are:

Ecological Stability
Every species has a specific role in an ecosystem. They capture and store energy and also
produce and decompose organic matter. The ecosystem supports the services without which
humans cannot survive. A diverse ecosystem is more productive and can withstand
environmental stress.

Economic Importance
Biodiversity is a reservoir of resources for the manufacture of food, cosmetic products and
pharmaceuticals.
Crops livestock, fishery, and forests are a rich source of food.
Wood, fibres, perfumes, lubricants, rubber, resins, poison and cork are all derived from different
plant species.
The national parks and sanctuaries are a source of tourism. They are a source of beauty and joy
for many people.

Ethical Importance
All the species have a right to exist. Humans should not cause their voluntary extinction.
Biodiversity preserves different cultures and spiritual heritage. Therefore, it is very important to
conserve biodiversity.
Megadiverse Countries
Megadiverse countries have high levels of biodiversity, meaning that they have many different
types of plant life and animal life. The most megadiverse country in the world is Brazil due
mainly to the presence of the Amazon Rainforest. The Amazon has the most diverse plant and
animal life on the planet, with many different life forms not being present anywhere else on
earth. Some estimates place the number of different types of plants and animals in the Amazon at
over four million!
Behind Brazil is the nearby country of Colombia, which has 300,000 different
invertebrates (animals that have a backbone). It has 20% of all of the different types of plants
found in the world, along with 2000 different types of fish, 1900 types of birds, and 7000 types
of beetles.
Following Colombia is the United States, whose diversity can be attributed mostly to its
immense size, which encompasses many different biomes (tundra, desert, forest, et cetera). It has
428 different types of mammals and 784 different types of birds, along with hundreds of reptiles
and amphibians. There are also nearly 100,000 different types of insects that have been
recognized in the United States.
For more biodiversity, move from the Western Hemisphere to the tip of Africa, where the
country of South Africa also has a high level of biodiversity. Scientists know of South Africa
having 22,000 different types of plants or nearly 10% of the plant species on earth.
Next are some islands in the Pacific Ocean, including the Philippines and Papua New
Guinea. The Philippines are home to an extensive rainforest that is smaller and less diverse than
the Amazon but still impressive in its biodiversity. In just the past decade, 16 new species of
mammals have been discovered in the Philippines. In terms of percentages, Papua
New Guinea comprises less than one percent of the earth’s land, yet it hosts five percent of the
world’s different forms of plant and animal life
Other megadiverse countries include  ,Malaysia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo,
Australia, Indonesia, China, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, India, and Madagascar. While
biodiversity allows life on earth to thrive, we need to be aware of how human activity has
harmed many types of plants and animal life on the planet. Burning fossil fuels and cutting down
forests are causing many species to go extinct.
Philippines Biodiversity

The Philippines is one of mega-biodiverse countries of the world, containing two-thirds of the

earth's biodiversity and between 70% and 80% of the world's plant and animal species. It ranks
fifth in the number of plant species and maintains 5% of the world's flora. But the country has
also been declared a biodiversity hotspot, threatened by abusive human activities and massive
habitat destruction due to climate change. Likewise, extractive industries, increasing population
density and government policies endanger its biodiversity.
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