Topic 9: Biodiversity and the Health Society

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this topic, you should be able to:

• Define biodiversity;

• Determine the interrelatedness of biodiversity, environment, and health;

• Discuss the ethics, implications, and potential future impacts of GMOs; and

• Propose a plan or make a stand that would show the relatedness of species in forming
up a diverse and healthy society without compromising each other.

Activating Prior Knowledge

Think – and – do-it-solo

Checkpoint 1

All living things exist in balance with other living things and physical factor.

Unknown

Bio diversity

Look at the word “biodiversity”. It’s actually two words combined together. With your
partner, breakdown the meaning of the two words in biodiversity.
Bio means___________________________________________________

Diversity means__________________________________________________

Now, combine the two words and try to come up with your own definition of biodiversity:

Biodiversity means
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________

Let us compare your definition with the following definitions provided:

Biodiversity is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the entire earth which includes the
simplest unicellular organism to the most complex multicellular organism. (Serafico, 2018)

Another definition of biodiversity is the variability of organisms including species thriving in

different ecosystems like marine, freshwater or any aquatic and terrestrial and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity between, within and of ecosystems.
(Villago Globale, 2009)

Biodiversity comprises abiotic and biotic factors. Several biomes have diverse characteristics
in terms of their abiotic factors that dictate the biotic factors that thrives on it. The aquatic
biome can be divided into two, the freshwater biome and the marine biome. The freshwater
biome includes ponds and lakes, streams and rivers, and wetlands. It is usually less than one (1
% ) of the earth’s resources. Marine regions include oceans, coral reefs and estuaries. It
comprises about three fourths of the earth’s surface. Terrestrial biomes include deserts, forest,
grasslands, and tundra.
 Application

Activity 2: Biodiversity Saver in the Making

BIG IDEA:

“We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come
to understand what it means to humanity.”

E.O. Wilson

Complete the table below:

Put a check (√) mark on the box of your choice under Day 1: My Opinion. And look for
evidences and that may support and not support the statements and place a check mark on your
decision whether you agree or disagree.

Day 1: My Opinion Evidences/ Findings Day 2: My Decision

Agree Disagree Support No support Agree Disagree

1. Environmental
changes caused
by humans can
always be
reversed.
2. We can learn
from previous
environmental
disasters so that
we will not
repeat the same
mistake.

3. All scientific
experiments do
not affect
biodiversity

4. One organism
becoming extinct
does not hurt
nature because
there are millions
of organisms on
earth
 Feedback

BIG IDEA:

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come
to understand what it means to humanity.

E.O. Wilson

Activity 4: Think about these questions

1. How would you reconcile the emerging needs of human beings regarding their health and
the need to protect the biodiversity?