MODULE 10

SPECIFIC TOPIC IN STS:BIODIVERSITY AND THE HEALTHY SOCIETY

Suggested Time Allotment: 4 hours
WRITER: CYRA MAE R. SOREDA

OVERVIEW
Biodiversity is a measure of variation and richness of living organisms at a particular scale.
In this module, we are going to learn some of the important roles that biodiversity plays in human
systems. The module begins by explaining what biodiversity is, what causes biodiversity, and why
we care about it. The module then discusses biodiversity loss around the world today. Human
activity is causing extensive and alarming biodiversity loss, with many species going extinct. But
humans are also active in conserving biodiversity. The module closes with a discussion of threats
to the extinction of one particularly noteworthy species: humans.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Define biodiversity.
2. Describe different types of biomes
3. Identify human-caused activities that threatens the biodiversity.
4. Determine the interrelatedness of society, the environment, and health.

VOCABULARY LIST
Biodiversity- the number and variety of organisms living in an area.
Biome- -broad types of biological communities with characteristic types of environments that
occur in different conditions of temperature and precipitation.
Biodiversity hotspot- a region containing an exceptional concentration of endemic species but is
threatened by human-induced loss of habitat.
Species – a group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile
offspring.
LEARNING PLAN

Materials and Media To do for OL/B/FLEX Expected Output

• Course Packet • Problem-based
Module activities
• Completed outputs on
-Pretest, Lesson • Readings the learning activities
Activity with
assessment • Video watching • Research based
questions, Reading (has access to the output
Materials, internet)
-Video Clips (optional) • Posttest
-Posttest/Quiz • Assessment (quiz/formative
- Assignment Question/Open ended assessment)
questions

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Answer the Pretest. Submit your answer sheet to your instructor for checking.

If you got a high score, good job! It means that you have already know much about the
topics to be discuss in this module.

If you got low score, take it as a challenge! This means that you will learn more on this
module.

2. This module in Biodiversity discusses the important roles biodiversity plays in human
system. Within the lesson are embedded assessment questions and learning tasks to
evaluate your learnings and share your thoughts regarding the topic. You will write your
answers in the answer sheet provided in this material.

3. Do the learning tasks and activities. Instructions and scoring rubric will be provided in this
module.

4. Accomplish and submit posttest.

PRETEST
Direction: Read each statement carefully and ENCIRCLE the LETTER of the correct answer.

1. Why is biodiversity important to ecosystems?

a. It allows animals to feed permanently from one type of plant.
b. It increases at each level of the food chain.
c. It helps populations adapt to ecological changes.
d. It reduces the number of insects in a given ecosystem.

2. Explain the relationship between extinction and biodiversity.

a. Extinction contributes to a decrease in biodiversity
b. Extinction causes the loss of large predators.
c. Extinction contributes to an increase in biodiversity
d. Extinction randomly changes biodiversity in one direction or the other.

3. An ecologically healthy area has:

Number of Species Number of Individuals per Species

a Few Few
b Many Sustainably good
c Few Sustainably good
d Many Few

4. Converting a prairie to a farm field is an example of ________.

I. overharvesting III. exotic species
II habitat loss IV. climate change

a. I and II c. II only
b. III and IV d. IV only

5. What makes an ecosystem strong and resistant to change?

a. biodiversity
b. human impact
c. ecological succession
d. generalist species

6. What would happen if we removed one species from the rainforest?

a. It would collapse due to species removal.
b. It would stay resilient due to the high biodiversity already established.
c. It would undermine the entire system.
d. It would take time for the biodiversity to recover from a single loss.

7. What would happen if coral reefs collapsed?

I. Thousands of species of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans will lose homes
II. Fungi, and other plant species will die.
III. Thousands of species of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans will find other homes
IV. It will recover because there are other coral reefs in the ocean
a. I and II c. II only
b. III and IV d. III only

8. Which of the following is NOT true about biodiversity?

a. It is the variability among living organisms from all sources.
b. It includes only species we consider rare, threatened, or endangered.
c. It encompasses the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.
d. It is all the levels from genes to ecosystem.
9. In some areas there is an exceptionally high level of biodiversity and this area is called as __________.
a. cold spot
b. population spot
c. spot light
d. hot spot

10. Where are many critical biodiversity hotspots located?

a. cities and developed areas of the world
b. islands, tropical rain forests, and coastal areas
c. desert and polar environments
d. marine ecosystems

11. Which one of the following is NOT a major characteristic feature of biodiversity hot spots?
a. Large number of species
b. Abundance of endemic species
c. Mostly located in the tropics
d. Mostly located in the polar regions

12. Why should we remove an invasive species?

a. They won't be able to survive in a new environment.
b. They will eat native species and cause other species to decrease.
c. We should not remove them and let nature be.
d. They will affect the food chain and other species competes with resources.

13. Why genetic diversity plays an important role in the survival and adaptability of a species?
a. Ability of the population to adapt to the changing environment
b. Any population must remain same irrespective of the outer change in the environment
c. Environment remains same even if the population changes
d. Population inability to adapt to the changing environment

14. A particular biome is characterized by

a. Temperature, soil, and amount of light
b. Temperatures, precipitation, vegetation, animals
c. Vegetation and animals
d. Vegetation and climate

15. Estuaries often exhibit a great degree of species diversity because

a. many species of the open ocean spend a portion of their life cycles in estuarine waters
b. there is a continued upwelling of nutrients in an estuarine habitat.
c. continued upwelling of nutrients and the unique combination of salty and fresh water creates a variety
of habitats
d. saltwater and freshwater species are present, plus many species of invertebrates and fishes that spend
their early life stages here.

16. In tropical and temperate rain forests,

a. plants flourish with regular and heavy rainfall.
b. diversity is limited because the tall forest canopy shuts out most of the incoming light.
c. conditions are extremely favorable for growing luxuriant food crops.
d. there is little competition for resources.

17. The taiga could best be described as what type of forest?

a. deciduous
b. evergreen coniferous
c. thorn
d. broad-leafed
18. In which biome would you MOST LIKELY find this organism?

a. temperate deciduous forest

b. tropical rainforest
c. temperate grassland
d. tundra

19. What is the greatest threat to biodiversity?

a. overharvesting of commercially important species
b. habitat alteration, conversion, and destruction
c. introduced species that compete with native species
d. pollution of Earth’s air, water, and soil

20. Image "B" shows more biodiversity than image "A". Why?

IMAGE A IMAGE B

a. Because "B" shows more different species than image "A"

b. Because "B" has less different species than image "A"
c. "A" has a greater number of same species plants than image “B”
d. “B” has a lesser number of same species than image “A”

21. A tropical forest like the forest around the Bulusan Lake may be permanently damaged and may not
return to its original biodiversity after which of the following environmental disturbance?
a. Forest fire
b. clearing and farming
c. volcanic eruption
d. flooding after typhoon

22. Countless Philippine’s animals and plants like Eagle, Tarsier, Philippine forest turtle, Rafflesia flower
and waling-waling are now considered by ecologist as endangered plant and animal species. Which of
the following is the worst culprit when it comes to human activities threatening their extinction?
a. Chemical pollutants
b. Habitat destruction
c. Overharvesting
d. Disease
23. Which of the following is a description of a disturbance in an ecosystem?
a. Any change that causes a disruption in an ecosystem.
b. When an ecosystem is in a state of balance.
c. When an ecosystem is no longer in a state of balance and cannot recover.
d. When an ecosystem changes into a new ecosystem

24. How do invasive species impact biodiversity

a. They outcompete for resources
b. They kill off the keystone species
c. They become a keystone species
d. They reduce the number of producers

25. Which of the following analogies do not satisfy the theme of grouping?
a. Visayan warty Pig: Cebu
b. Philippine forest turtle: Palawan
c. Tamaraw: Mindoro
d. Philippine Naked-backed fruit bat: Negros Island

26. The extinction of the Philippine Crocodile was due to:

a. deforestation and hunting
b. habitat destruction, degradation, and harvest for meat
c. infrastructure development, logging, and agriculture
d. habitat destruction, dynamite fishing, and killings

27. Which of the following would be MOST effective in slowing the loss of biodiversity?
a. freezing fertilized eggs of endangered animals in case the species become extinct in the wild
b. setting aside small plots of land in a variety of ecosystems, such as forests, grasslands, and marshes
c. creating large parks/preserves in biodiversity hotspots
d. requiring every country to maintain a seed bank

28. How can zoos, botanic gardens, and wildlife parks help save species?
a. by distributing threatened species to all nation.
b. by collecting species from remote wilderness areas.
c. by participating in captive breeding programs.
d. by donating species to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

29. The following are personal actions to help reduce biodiversity loss except
a. Encourage and support local government initiatives that protect habitat and decrease threats to
biodiversity.
b. Fewer support for government policies and actions that conserve our valuable ecosystems
c. Participate in biodiversity conservation by increasing our knowledge of environmental issues, and
increasing our awareness of the impacts of biodiversity loss
d. Become an educators and role models as stewards of the environment

30. Maintaining biodiversity is essential to

a. survival species
b. maintain climate
c. avoid the end of the of the world
d. species extinction
What is Biodiversity?

“The most wonderful mystery of life may well be the means by which it created so
much diversity from so little physical matter. The biosphere, all organisms combined,
makes up only about one part in ten billion of the earth’s mass. It is sparsely
distributed through a kilometer-thick layer of soil, water, and air stretched over a half
billion square kilometers of the surface.”

The variety of life on Earth is immense and wondrous, as this quote by famed ecologist
E.O. Wilson suggests. About two million species have been described by scientists. On an
average day, about 300 new species are documented. Some scientists estimate that there are as
many as 50 million species alive in the world today.
Biodiversity is a measure of variation and richness of living organisms at a particular scale.
It can be measured on an extremely small scale, such as the number of organisms living in a
spoonful of soil, or on a large scale, such as the whole earth. Biodiversity can also be thought of
on several levels of biological variation, ranging from genetic diversity within a species to species
richness within whole biomes. The biodiversity of a particular place, region, or landscape is
influenced by climate, topography, and geologic history, as well human and non-human
disturbances.
Another definition of biodiversity is 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.
Biodiversity is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source
of life for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry.
(Villaggio Globale, 2009)

Photo reference: Exotile News

Distribution of Biodiversity on Earth
Because of the curvature of the Earth and the fact that it is tilted slightly on its axis relative
to the sun, different regions of the planet receive different amounts of sunlight energy throughout
the year. This impacts the length of warm, cold, wet, and dry seasons in these different regions,
as well as the temperature, humidity, and other environmental factors that define the region. A
biodiversity hotspot is a region containing an exceptional concentration of endemic species, but
is threatened by human-induced loss of habitat. These hotspots support nearly 60% of the world’s
plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species. Many global organizations are working to
conserve these biodiversity hotspots, such as the World Wildlife Foundation’s Global 200 and the
Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund. A relatively small number of countries (17) have less than
10% of the global surface, but support more than 70% of the biological diversity on earth.
Countries rich in biological diversity and associated traditional knowledge belong to a group
known as the Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC).
Biodiversity refers to the number of different species of organisms in a biome (or
ecosystem or other ecological unit). Biodiversity is usually greater in warmer biomes. Therefore,
biodiversity generally decreases from the equator to the poles. Biodiversity is usually greater in
wetter biomes, as well. Picture a desert and rainforest. The biodiversity of these two biomes is
vastly different. Both biomes have warm climates, but the desert is very dry, and the rainforest is
very wet. The desert has very few organisms, so it has low biodiversity. Some parts of the desert
may have no organisms, and therefore zero biodiversity. In contrast, the rainforest has the highest
biodiversity of any biome on Earth. Species residing in different regions are characterized by
specific adaptations that allow success under the particular set of environmental conditions of the
region. Regions can be broadly divided into terrestrial biomes and aquatic ecosystems.
AQUATIC BIOMES TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
Freshwater Tundra
Freshwater wetlands Rainforest
Marine Savanna
Coral reefs Taiga
Estuaries Temperate forest
Temperate grassland
Alpine
Chaparral
Desert

TERRESTRIAL BIOMES
1. Tundra-The tundra biome is found around the Arctic Circle in the
northern hemisphere and on the tops of very high mountains. It is
also found in the southern hemisphere in Antarctica. The tundra is
the coldest and driest of Earth’s biomes. This ecosystem is special
because the ground is permanently frozen. This is called permafrost.
Plants and microorganisms grow and reproduce during the short
summers when the soil thaws for a brief time. The types of plants that
can survive here include shrubs, sedges, mosses, lichens, grasses,
and some flowering or herbaceous plants. There are only 48 known
species of land mammals that live in the tundra biome.
Photo reference:
2. Rainforest- There are two types of rainforests, tropical and
temperate , both having high amounts of rainfall. Tropical rainforests
have the highest biodiversity in the world. This means that there are
many different types of plants and animals in the same area.
Tropical rainforests are located around the equator in places such
as Brazil and Philippines. Temperate rainforests have high rainfall
like tropical rainforests but have cooler temperatures. They are
found in the mountains along coasts such as Pacific Northwest and
areas of the Appalachian forests of the United States. Photo reference: Steve Winter, National
Geographic

3. Savanna- Vegetation type that grows under hot, seasonally dry

climatic conditions and is characterized by an open tree canopy
(i.e., scattered trees) above a continuous tall grass understory (the
vegetation layer between the forest canopy and the ground). The
largest areas of savanna are found in Africa, South America,
Australia, India, the Myanmar (Burma)–Thailand region in Asia, and
Madagascar.
Photo reference: momoafrica.com

4. Taiga-This biome is made up of coniferous forests and is the

largest of all the land biomes. These forests contain evergreen trees
that have needles, such as hemlock, firs or spruces. The taiga is
located in the northern part of the world throughout Canada, Asia,
and parts of Europe. The winters are very cold here. The summers
are very sunny, but temperatures rarely climb above 50°F.

Photo reference: Alpha Coders

5. Temperate Deciduous Forest-The southeastern United States

is part of the temperate deciduous forest biome. The climate in this
area has four distinct seasons. The trees living in this biome are
adapted to these changing seasons. In autumn, the leaves of
some trees change colors and then fall off. This helps the trees
survive through winter. In the spring, new leaves and flowers grow.

Photo reference: Paul Bolstad, Bugwood.org

6. Temperate Grasslands-This biome is found on every
continent except Antarctica. There is enough rainfall to support
grasses and non-woody plants (flowers and herbs), but
drought and fire prevent large forests from growing. Grasses
can survive fire because they grow from the base of the plant
and can regrow after the tops have been burned off. In the
past, the central part of North America was covered in
grasslands, providing good habitat for animals like bison.
Unfortunately, both the bison and grasslands have been
almost wiped out. Photo reference: Charlie Hamilton James,
Nat Geo Image Collection

7. Alpine- Alpine biomes are found on the great mountain

ranges around the world including the Andes, Alps and Rocky
Mountains. Alpine biomes are usually at an altitude of around
10,000 feet high or more and lie just below the snow lines of
mountains. The general climate of an Alpine biome is very
cold, icy, snowy, and windy. During the summertime,
temperatures in Alpine biomes reach around 40 to 60
degrees Fahrenheit, however, come winter, temperatures are
well below freezing and as the altitude increases, it can get
much colder. Photo reference: Sunshine Nomads

8. Chaparral (Shrubland)- This biome is usually found

surrounding deserts and grasslands, such as in Southern
California, Chile, Mexico, areas surrounding the
Mediterranean Sea, and southwest parts of Africa and
Australia. Shrublands receive more rain than deserts and
grasslands, but less than forest biomes. Short trees and
shrubs thrive in the drought-like conditions by having small,
needle-like leaves that conserve water or a waxy coating that
reflects the sunlight. Fire is frequent and helps to renew this
biome’s plant diversity. Photo reference: APES Know

10. Desert- The desert biome is extremely dry and extremely

hot. Only plants and animals that can adapt to these
conditions will survive in this environment. Deserts can be
found all over the world - in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and
North America. The Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts cover
parts of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico.

Photo reference: BHMPICS

AQUATIC BIOMES

1. Freshwater Ecosystems- This biome includes rivers and

streams, lakes and ponds, and wetlands. They are found all
over the world and provide habitat for many different plants
and animals. This biome is important to us because our
drinking water comes from these ecosystems.

Photo reference: World Wide Fund for

Nature (WWF)

2. Freshwater Wetlands- The term “wetlands” encompasses

a wide variety of aquatic habitats including swamps, marshes,
bogs, prairie potholes, flood plains, and fen. Natural wetlands
are lands which, due to geological or ecological factors, have
a natural supply of water—either from tidal flows, flooding
rivers, connections with groundwater, or because they are
perched above aquifers or potholes. Wetlands are covered or
soaked for at least a part, and often all, of the year. This
makes wetlands intermediaries between terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems. They are neither one or the other, and
yet they are both. Photo reference: Britanicca.com

3. Marine Ecosystems- Oceans, coral reefs, and shorelines

are all different types of marine ecosystems. Many animals
are specially adapted to these ecosystems and cannot live
anywhere else. People and animals around the world share
the oceans. The Atlantic Ocean that we know in the US is the
same ocean for people in Mexico, Ireland, and Senegal.

Photo reference: National Geographic

Channel
4. Coral Reefs- Coral reef biomes are mostly located in
shallow tropical regions of the Western Pacific, Indian and
Atlantic Oceans. These locations happen to be ideal for
growth, settlement, and survival of hard corals. Coral reefs are
not able to endure temperatures that plummet below 18
degrees Celsius. This means their habitats are limited to
waters ranging from 23°N to 23°S latitude.

Photo reference: Getty Images

5. Estuaries- Estuaries are partly enclosed coastal bodies of

water in which river water is mixed with seawater. In a
general sense, the estuarine environment is defined by
salinity boundaries rather than by geographic boundaries.
The term estuary is derived from the Latin words aestus (“the
tide”) and aestuo (“boil”), indicating the effect generated
when tidal flow and river flow meet.

Photo reference: cnapan.co.uk

Earth contains an astonishing diversity of ecosystems. The interdependence of these

biomes sustain the planet as a whole. Unfortunately, many individuals do not think about the
damage they are causing on biodiversity. However, it is important as humans to realize the impact
we have on biodiversity because without it, there would be no human existence. If no changes
are made in the ways humans use resources on earth, there will be a continued degradation of
biodiversity until human lives can no longer be sustained.
 LEARNING TASK 1- BIOMES: What and Who Lives Where?
1. For each biome type, find a species (1) that lives in it and give a description of this species
along with its remaining population in the area and other relevant data.
2. This is done by making a flashcard to show the information of the species you selected in each
biome including its picture. The size of the flashcard is 1/4 of a short bond paper. Use creativity
in doing so.
SPECIES FLASHCARD RUBRIC

Exceptional Average Approaching Needs work

CATEGORY
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points
Number of cards 14 species for At least 10 At least 8 species At least 6 species
each biome are species for each for each biome for each biome are
present biome are are present present
present
Information All 14 species At least 10 At least 8 species At least 6 species
have a clear, species have a have a clear, have a clear, easy
easy to clear, easy to easy to to understand
understand understand understand description, have
description, have description, have description, have its remaining
its remaining its remaining its remaining population in the
population in the population in the population in the area.
area and provide area. area.
a an additional
relevant data
Image All 14 cards At least 10 cards At least 8 cards
include pictures include pictures include pictures At least 6 cards
to enhance to enhance to enhance include pictures to
learning learning learning concepts enhance learning
concepts concepts cards include concepts
pictures to
enhance learning
concepts
Neatness and Exceptionally Attractive and Acceptably Distractingly
Attractiveness attractive and neat in design attractive but may messy or very
particularly neat and layout be messy at poorly designed.
in design and times and/or Does not show
layout show lack of pride in work.
organization

Total score: __/20

WHY ARE BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IMPORTANT?

There are places on Earth that are both biologically rich — and deeply
threatened. For our own sake, we must work to protect them.

Species are the building blocks of Earth's life-support systems. We all depend on them.
But our planet’s “biodiversity,” the vast array of life on Earth, faces a crisis of historic
proportions. Development, urbanization, pollution, disease — they’re all wreaking havoc on the
tree of life. Today, species are going extinct at the fastest rate since the mass extinction of the
dinosaurs.
To stem this crisis, we must protect the places where biodiversity lives. But species aren’t
evenly distributed around the planet. Certain areas have large numbers of endemic species —
those found nowhere else. Many of these are heavily threatened by habitat loss and other human
activities. These areas are the biodiversity hotspots, 36 regions where success in conserving
species can have an enormous impact in securing our global biodiversity.
The forests and other remnant habitats in hotspots represent just 2.4% of Earth’s land
surface. But you’d be hard-pressed to find another 2.4% of the planet that’s more important.

WHAT ARE BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS?

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

• It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics — which is to say, it must have
a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet. A hotspot, in other
words, is irreplaceable.
• It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. In other words, it must be
threatened.
Around the world, 36 areas qualify as hotspots. They represent just 2.4% of Earth’s land
surface, but they support more than half of the world’s plant species as endemics — i.e.,
species found no place else — and nearly 43% of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species
as endemics.

Can you name those 36 biodiversity hotspots?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________.
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY

“Extinction is the most irreversible and tragic of all environmental calamities.

With each plant and animal species that disappears, a precious part of
creation is callously erased.” -Michael Soulé (2004), noted American
conservation biologist

It is estimated that the current rate of species extinction is between 1,000 and 100,000
times more rapid than the average rate during the last several billion years. The growth of human
populations, consumption levels, and mobility is the root of most of the serious threats to
biodiversity today.

While learning about the negative impacts of humans on biodiversity, please keep a few
things in mind. First, it is rare that humans intend to make a species go extinct or to threaten
biodiversity in some other way. Usually, those impacts are the unfortunate by-products of people
trying to provide a decent living for themselves or to serve some other purpose. Second, in the
last 30 years or so, efforts to protect and preserve biodiversity have expanded exponentially. We
will explore those efforts later in the module. As you learn about the current threats to biodiversity,
resist the temptation to conclude that humans are simply foolish or short-sighted or greedy, and
instead consider the larger pressures and systems that lead toward biodiversity loss.

H.I.P.P.O.
There are many threats to biodiversity today. The biggest ones can be remembered by
using the acronym H.I.P.P.O.: Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, Human Population,
and Overharvesting.

1. Habitat Loss
This occurs when a particular area is converted from
usable to unusable habitat. Industrial activities, agriculture,
aquaculture, mining, deforestation, and water extraction are all
central causes of habitat loss. This includes deforestation for
wood for cooking food. Habitat fragmentation, the loss of large
units of habitat, is also a serious threat to biodiversity. The picture
shows an example of deforestation in the Philippines.
Photo reference: gaiadiscovery.com
2. Invasive Species

When an animal, plant, or microbe moves into a new

area, it can affect the resident species in several different ways.
New species can parasitize or predate upon residents, hybridize
with them, compete with them for food, bring unfamiliar
diseases, modify habitats, or disrupt important interactions. One
famous and striking example of an invasive species is the brown
tree snake in Guam. Native to Australia, the snake was
accidentally transported to Guam in ship cargo following World
War II. Because Guam had basically no predators to keep the
Photo reference: nwf.org
snake population in check, it rapidly multiplied and caused
the extirpation of most of the resident bird species. Extirpation means extinction within a region:
the species survives elsewhere, but not in that region.

3. Pollution
The discharge of toxic synthetic chemicals and heavy metals into the environment has a
huge impact on species abundance and can lead to extinctions. It’s important to remember that
substances that are “natural” can become pollution when they are too abundant in a certain area.
For example, nitrogen and phosphorous are important nutrients for plant growth, but when they
concentrate in water systems after being applied as agricultural fertilizers, they can cause “dead
zones” that are uninhabitable for fish and other wildlife. Also, carbon dioxide is a “natural”
component of the atmosphere but is considered a pollutant when emitted by human industrial
activities.

Bioaccumulation is an important concept connected with

pollution. This is the process of chemicals becoming
increasingly concentrated in animal tissues as they move
up the food chain. Killer whales provide an example of
how bioaccumulation can be a serious problem for
biodiversity, and especially for marine mammals. Many
agricultural and industrial chemicals are persistent
organic pollutants (POPs), which do not seem to cause
biological damage at very low concentrations. However,
these POPs are easily incorporated into organisms like
Photo reference: TiredEarth
bacteria, phytoplankton, and other invertebrates at the
bottom of marine food chains. As those organisms are
eaten by fish, and fish are eaten by marine mammals, the POPs move up the food chain. If a killer
whale eats 100 king salmon, she incorporates all the POPs that were in those salmon into her
body tissues, meaning that over time the concentrations of POPs in her body can become quite
high. At these higher concentrations, many POPs have been shown to cause disruptions to
hormone levels and immune systems, and increase birth defects. Anything that eats high on the
food chain (such as humans!) is at risk of impacts from bioaccumulation of toxins.
4. Human Population
In the year 1800, there were fewer than 1 billion people on earth, and today there are about
7.7 billion. Even without the vast increases in per capita resource use that have occurred during
this period, the pressures on biodiversity would have increased during this time period simply
based on population growth. While the impacts that each human has on biodiversity varies widely
depending on the types and amounts of resources that he or she uses (as in the I=PAT equation),
overall, increasing populations have lead to increasing threats to biodiversity.

5. Overharvesting

This includes targeted hunting, gathering, or fishing for a particular species as well as
incidental harvesting such as bycatch in ocean fisheries.

Ocean fisheries have been particularly vulnerable

to overharvesting during the post-WWII period because of
technological developments like refrigeration, sonar,
larger nets, and onboard processing. The cod fishery in
the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean was an important
commercial fishery for hundreds of years, but only a few
decades of intense harvesting using these new
technologies in the late twentieth century led to a
population collapse. The population declined by over
90%, and fishing for the species was closed in both
Canada and the United States. The loss of a top predator
like cod, along with reductions of other top predator fish Photo reference: WWF, Industrial Fisheries
populations like haddock and flounder, has led to an
explosion in prey fish populations like herring, capelin and shrimp. Cod populations have not
recovered, despite fishing pressures ceasing, and this observation has made researchers
speculate that the ecosystem may now be in an alternative stable state that will prevent the
recovery of cod populations any time in the near future.

Interactions among drivers of biodiversity loss

As explained above, in most places, more than one of these factors is having an impact
on biodiversity. It often requires a closer look at a particular place to understand the interplay
between habitat loss, invasive species, human population, pollution, overharvesting, and other
factors that affect biodiversity. For example, an increasing human population with high meat-
consumption patterns and loose environmental regulations may increase deforestation rates for
agriculture and cattle grazing, resulting in habitat loss and nitrogen pollution from synthetic
fertilizers. Arguably, human population is not a driver of biodiversity loss in and of itself, but it
tends to intensify and interact with other drivers.

What does biodiversity mean for human health?

World Health Organization mentioned that people depend on biodiversity in their daily
lives, in ways that are not always apparent or appreciated. Human health ultimately depends upon
ecosystem products and services (such as availability of fresh water, food and fuel sources) which
are requisite for good human health and productive livelihoods. Biodiversity loss can have
significant direct human health impacts if ecosystem services are no longer adequate to meet
social needs. Indirectly, changes in ecosystem services affect livelihoods, income, local migration
and, on occasion, may even cause political conflict.
Additionally, biophysical diversity of microorganisms, flora and fauna provides extensive
knowledge which carry important benefits for biological, health, and pharmacological sciences.
Significant medical and pharmacological discoveries are made through greater understanding of
the earth's biodiversity. Loss in biodiversity may limit discovery of potential treatments for many
diseases and health problems. (WHO, n.d.)

Nutritional impact of biodiversity

According to World Health Organization, biodiversity 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.
Access to a sufficiency of a nutritious variety of food is a fundamental determinant of health.
Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels: the ecosystem, with food production
as an ecosystem service; the species in the ecosystem and the genetic diversity within species.
Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food can
differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet. Healthy local diets, with adequate
average levels of nutrients intake, necessitates maintenance of high biodiversity levels.
Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant
protection (pesticides) or the introduction of crop varieties and cropping patterns affect
biodiversity, and thus impact global nutritional status and human health. Habitat simplification,
species loss and species succession often enhance communities vulnerabilities as a function of
environmental receptivity to ill health. (WHO, n.d.)

Importance of biodiversity for health research and traditional medicine

Traditional medicine continue to play an essential role in health care, especially in primary
health care. Traditional medicines are estimated to be used by 60% of the world’s population and
in some countries are extensively incorporated into the public health system. Medicinal plant use
is the most common medication tool in traditional medicine and complementary medicine
worldwide. Medicinal plants are supplied through collection from wild populations and cultivation.
Many communities rely on natural products collected from ecosystems for medicinal and cultural
purposes, in addition to food.
 Although synthetic medicines are available for many purposes, the global need and
demand for natural products persists for use as medicinal products and biomedical research that
relies on plants, animals and microbes to understand human physiology and to understand and
treat human diseases.

Infectious diseases
Human activities are disturbing both the structure and functions of ecosystems and
altering native biodiversity. Such disturbances reduce the abundance of some organisms, cause
population growth in others, modify the interactions among organisms, and alter the interactions
between organisms and their physical and chemical environments. Patterns of infectious diseases
are sensitive to these disturbances. Major processes affecting infectious disease reservoirs and
transmission include, deforestation; land-use change; water management e.g. through dam
construction, irrigation, uncontrolled urbanization or urban sprawl; resistance to pesticide
chemicals used to control certain disease vectors; climate variability and change; migration and
international travel and trade; and the accidental or intentional human introduction of pathogens.

Climate change, biodiversity, and health

Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-being
at present and in the future. Climate is an integral part of ecosystem functioning and human health
is impacted directly and indirectly by results of climatic conditions upon terrestrial and marine
ecosystems. Marine biodiversity is affected by ocean acidification related to levels of carbon in
the atmosphere. Terrestrial biodiversity is influenced by climate variability, such as extreme
weather events (ie drought, flooding) that directly influence ecosystem health and the productivity
and availability of ecosystem goods and services for human use. Longer term changes in climate
affect the viability and health of ecosystems, influencing shifts in the distribution of plants,
pathogens, animals, and even human settlements.
LEARNING TASK 2: BIODIVERSITY OR BIO-DIE-VERSITY
1.) Why do you think biodiversity is important in the survival of the species?

2.) Why do we need to protect the habitats of animals and other species?

3.) What are human-caused activities that threaten the loss of species? Discuss at least 3.
4. How would you reconcile the emerging needs of human beings regarding their health and the
need to protect the growth of biodiversity?

5. Do you think that earth can exist without human beings taking care of it? Or biodiversity also
needs human beings for it to be in a continuous growing process?

GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO REDUCE BIODIVERSITY LOSS

6. What are small ways that you think would promote safekeeping our biodiversity? What do you
think are the common human activities that can harm biodiversity? What would be the
consequences if these human activities might be stopped and prohibited?
LEARNING TASK 3- READING ACTIVITY: BIODIVERSITY AND THE CHANING WORLD
Direction: Please read the article Climate change turns conservationists into triage doctors,
written by Sharon Oosthoek for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC is Canada's
national public media organization, analogous to the Public Broadcasting Service in the United
States. This article describes the desperate situation that biodiversity conservationists are finding
themselves in given the stresses that climate change is putting on ecosystems. As you read this
article, consider the following questions:

1) How does conservation triage as described in the article compare to medical triage
conducted in emergency response to natural disasters?
2) How would you decide which species to protect in a conservation triage scenario?
3) What are the implications of the conservation triage scenario to decisions about
reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

CLIMATE CHANGE TURNS CONSERVATIONISTS INTO TRIAGE DOCTORS

Sharon Oosthoek · CBC News · Posted: Nov 30, 2009 3:51 PM ET | Last Updated: December 1, 2009

Scientists predict the next 40 years will bring a 3C to 5C rise in mean annual temperature for British
Columbia's Taku River region, and up to 30 per cent more precipitation. ((David Nunuk))
 Deep in the wilds of northern British Columbia, people are trying to imagine what the
region's forests, salmon streams and alpine meadows will look like by 2050, when climate change
is expected to have drastically altered the ecosystem.
The Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the province are in the midst of deciding how to
manage three million hectares bordering Alaska and the Yukon. When it is completed in the spring
of 2010, their agreement will be one of the last large land-use plans in B.C.
It may also be the first to explicitly address climate change by relying on research
released earlier this year that helps predict which zones are best conserved as wilderness and
which could be developed.
But it is a devilishly difficult task, scientists familiar with the area say.
How do you make conservation decisions when the land to be conserved is in the midst
of dramatic change? In addition to warmer temperatures and increased precipitation, rapid
changes in snow pack, water flow, permafrost, wildfire and insect infestations are all anticipated
for the region.
B.C. is not alone in this challenge. In fact, conservationists around the world, who are
struggling to protect plants and animals in the face of rapid climate change, are beginning to
compare themselves with harried triage doctors. While, technically, conservation is about
keeping things as they are, scientists now say that may no longer be possible.
"The point is not to think outside the box, but to recognize that the box itself has moved
and, in the 21st century, will continue to move more and more rapidly," University of Colorado
ecologist Timothy Seastedt and his colleagues write in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the
Environment.
Seastedt and others argue land managers must focus on ecosystem diversity to give
plants and animals the best chance to adapt to the change scientists say is coming: The more
diversified a system, the more resilient.
Trying to return ecosystems to some historic or natural state is no longer possible, they
say.
"To be honest, the combination of climate and atmospheric chemistries we're
experiencing now — you can't find any historical match," Seastedt says.

Giving grizzlies and wolves a place to flee

B. C. ecologist Jim Pojar is grappling with this in his climate change study on behalf of
the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the province.
His report divides the area into cells of 90 square metres, identifying the landscape's
enduring physical features such as bedrock geology, mountains, valleys, lakes and streams. He
then overlays on that grid the 3C to 5C rise in mean annual temperature predicted for the region
and the 10 to 30 per cent increase in predicted precipitation.
 The report recommends protecting large intact watersheds with as many different
landforms as possible as the best way to retain biodiversity. Pojar also recommends wildlife
sanctuaries and migration corridors for grizzlies, wolves and other species as they flee rising
temperatures and precipitation.
But the harsh reality is that some animals may eventually disappear from the region,
regardless of how much land is protected. For instance, predictions of more frequent thawing and
freezing will coat ground lichen with a layer of ice, cutting off caribou from their main source of
winter food, Pojar warns.
"The name of the game is going to be triage. Many species are not going to make it through
this climate change bottleneck," says Pojar, a former provincial forester and retired executive
director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.
While he is the first to overlay predicted climate changes on physical landscapes over
such a vast area, scientists at the Virginia-based Nature Conservancy are using the technique on
a smaller scale. They are assessing lands the conservation group plans to buy to see whether
they will remain important targets for conservation in the future.
The group is now considering buying land based on its potential, not on its current
conservation value. For instance, nondescript habitat slightly in from the coast in the southeastern
United States could morph into valuable wetlands as sea levels rise, says the conservancy's chief
scientist, Peter Kareiva.

A controversial proposal: assisted migration

While habitats will undoubtedly change, the species that live in them may have trouble
relocating. In years past animals could move on their own as their native range became
inhospitable, but cities and farms now stand in their way.
That's why some biologists are beginning to talk about assisted migration, despite
worries that it could have unforeseen consequences.
University of Notre Dame conservation biologist Jessica Hellmann and her colleagues
recently proposed a system for assessing when to help wildlife relocate to places they aren't
currently found. Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they
suggest a scoring system for weighing scientific and social implications.
They don't expect their scorecard to eliminate controversy — Hellmann says she and her
colleagues often disagree when applying it, even in theoretical situations. But she argues that
because climate change is so radically and rapidly altering habitat, we need to consider equally
radical answers.
"We're responsible for climate change, and therefore maybe we're responsible for
helping animals deal with climate change," Hellman says.
The case of the Western Swamp Tortoise

The Western Swamp Tortoise is the worlds most endangered tortoise. Its habitat is drying up, due to
Australias extended drought. ((Gerald Kuchling, Western Australian Department of Environment and
Conservation))

That is the thinking behind an Australian project designed to find suitable habitat for the
world's most endangered tortoise, the Western Swamp Tortoise.
University of Western Australia biologist Nicola Mitchell and her colleagues aim to predict
where best to introduce captive-bred individuals, given her country's extended drought.
The tortoises are highly adapted to their particular habitat — they need swamps with
roughly 30 cm of standing water in winter and spring for feeding, mating and growth. But with a
predicted overall warming of up to 3C and a decrease in rainfall of up to 20 per cent by 2100,
those swamps are drying up.
Mitchell will use computer programs to figure out an area's continuing suitability by looking
at the interaction between predicted precipitation and temperature, and topography, vegetation
and soil. She'll match that up with the very specific conditions the tortoise needs to successfully
reproduce and, armed with this information, her team hopes to make recommendations for future
habitat.
Still, conservationists are only too aware that such attempts to mitigate the effects of
climate change could encourage a laissez-faire attitude to halting it.
"It's clear that our policy makers are not making the tough decisions needed to prevent
significant climate change," Seastedt says.
"A number of conservationists and a few scientists classify our viewpoint as defeatism,
but they're missing the point. We still can keep the parts, the biota; we just have to find creative
ways to do that."
 GOVERNMENT ACTIONS TO REDUCE BIODIVERSITY LOSS
2010 was the international year of biodiversity. One might consider what governmental
actions have happened in the years since then.
Government action can be grouped into the following categories:
1. HABITAT PROTECTION AND RESTORATION
The UN reports that it is estimated that every country in the world currently has a protected
area system. Total protected areas cover around 15% of the global land footprint and 3.5% of the
global ocean footprint.
Government commitment can be on a national and in some cases, regional level. In the
European Union, significant habitat protection is delivered through the EU Birds and Habitats
directive and through the Natura 2000 network. Stretching over 18 % of the EU’s land area and
almost 6 % of its marine territory, the Natura 2000 network is the largest coordinated network of
protected areas in the world. It offers a haven to Europe's most valuable and threatened species
and habitats.
The crucial point to remember is that biodiversity protection requires more than just
designation of natural real estate. It needs effective monitoring and management.
This is where short term political systems may struggle - seeing it through over the longer
term. Making actions sustainable.

2. TACKLING WILDLIFE CRIME

One of the main reasons that a lot of species are facing extinction is the continued illegal
hunting and trading of protected animals. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),
the illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade behind drugs, people smuggling and
counterfeiting, worth an estimated £15 billion annually.
International issues, WWF state, need to be addressed on an international level, which is
the rationale behind the 1975 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES), adhered to by 183 countries.
International actions have had mixed success. It is recognized in many quarters that
conservation battles are being lost with the continued decline of 'charismatic' species such as
elephant, tiger and rhino populations. The reality is that wildlife crime is perpetrated by highly
sophisticated, organized criminal syndicates supplying a demand largely driven from East-Asia.

3. SPECIES-LEVEL CONSERVATION AND REINTRODUCTION PROGRAMS

A quick scour of the internet shows that there are numerous case studies of governments
acting through associated structures either alone or more commonly in partnership with local
communities and independent conservation organizations.
A recent example is the WWF working with the Nepalese government and local citizen
scientists to monitor snow leopard populations - a project funded by WWF-UK and USAID.
 The challenge facing humanity is that much attention and funding centres around 'flagship'
species with media appeal. To be truly effective from a biodiversity standpoint, all endangered
species require judicious consideration.

4. OTHER AGREEMENTS IN PLACE BETWEEN NATIONS

United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Ramsar Convention (Wetlands).
Bonn Convention on Migratory Species.
World Heritage Convention (indirectly by protecting biodiversity habitats).
Regional Conventions such as the Apia Convention.
Bilateral agreements such as the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement.
Global agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, give "sovereign national rights
over biological resources". The agreements commit countries to "conserve biodiversity", "develop
resources for sustainability" and "share the benefits" resulting from their use.

5. CURRENT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Domestication and plant breeding methods are not new, but advances in genetic
engineering have led to tighter laws covering distribution of genetically modified organisms, gene
patents and process patents. Governments are currently struggling to decide whether to focus on
genes, genomes, or organisms and species. Uniform approval for use of biodiversity as a legal
standard has not been achieved

PERSONAL ACTIONS TO REDUCE BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• Participate in biodiversity conservation by increasing our knowledge of environmental issues,
and increasing our awareness of the impacts of biodiversity loss.
• Increase support for government policies and actions that conserve our valuable ecosystems.
• We can become educators and role models as stewards of the environment by aiding in the
recovery of species at risk and preventing other species from becoming at risk.
• Habitat stewardship consists of activities that range from enhancing the quality of soil, water, air
and other natural resources to monitoring and conserving wildlife species and their habitat by
donating or leasing property to a land trust.
• Participating in Biodiversity Conservation: Identify locations of critical wildlife habitat for species
at risk and the threats to these areas. Where possible, eliminate threats and maintain natural
areas. Leave critical wildlife habitat undisturbed, especially nesting and denning sites. Promote
wildlife use by setting up bird and bat houses.
• Eradicate and control introduced weeds on your property. Keep vehicles on main roads to
reduce the spread of weeds and disturbance to wildlife.
• Leave native plants undisturbed, and landscape using native trees and vegetation. Native plants
are well adapted to local conditions and provide a low maintenance, drought resistant garden and
can prevent local flooding.
• Attract “good” insects by planting pollen and nectar plants.
• Manage livestock grazing to maintain good quality range conditions. Leave some areas
ungrazed to determine range characteristics to manage for.
• Maintain old standing dead trees and mature forest stands. Large dead trees provide nest
cavities for many species and mature forest will be replaced by old growth over time.
• Use natural products and methods for pest control; use pesticides that have minimal residual
effects such as pyrethrins, insecticidal soaps and dormant oil sprays; use a high-pressure water
stream from a hose to control aphids; use barriers and collars around plants to keep pests away.
• Monitor and assess your pets’ impact on biodiversity. Some domestic animals, especially cats,
are predators of wild animals and can devastate local population of native species. Cats have
been estimated to kill tens of millions of birds each year in North America alone.
• Learn as much as you can about nature and share your knowledge with others.
• Encourage and support local government initiatives that protect habitat and decrease threats to
biodiversity.
• Use environmentally friendly products.
• Dispose of hazardous material safely. Chemicals that enter the sewer system can contaminate
freshwater and ocean ecosystems.
• Recycle, reuse and reduce. Recycling decreases pollution by decreasing energy, electricity, and
water consumption and the need for landfills.
• Drive less, walk, ride or carpool more. Learn about low emission vehicle research and
availability.
POSTTEST
Directions: Answer the following questions.
1. In your own words, how do you define biodiversity? Describe the Philippine biodiversity.

2. How is biodiversity distributed across the Earth? Discuss 2 terrestrial biomes and 2 aquatic
biomes.

3. What are the serious threats of biodiversity loss? Give 3 and elaborate your answer.
 4. What are the Government’s actions to reduce biodiversity loss? What are your personal
actions to reduce biodiversity loss?

ASSIGNMENT
Compose a song dedicated to save our biodiversity. You may adapt the tune of existing
songs or compose your original tune. Create an Audio-Visual Presentation (AVP) of your
composition to be shared on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram (if possible).
 REFERENCES
BOOK

Sefarica, J.P.J., et. al. 2017. Science, Technology, and Society. First Edition. Rex Book
Store, Inc. (RBSI), 856 Nicanor Reyes Sr., Sampaloc, Manila/Tel.

ONLINE:

CK-12. (n.d.). Biodiversity and Adaptations of Biomes - Advanced.

https://www.ck12.org/book/ck-12-biology-advanced-concepts/section/18.13/
Conservation International. (n.d.) Biodiversity.
Hotspots.https://www.conservation.org/priorities/biodiversity-hotspots

GEOG 30N Environment and Society in a Changing World. (n.d.). Threats to Biodiversity.
PennState College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. https://www.e-
education.psu.edu/geog30/node/394.

Healing Earth. (2020). Geographic Distribution of Biodiversity.

https://healingearth.ijep.net/biodiversity/geographic-distribution-biodiversity

SaveEarth. (n.d.) Biodiversity loss solutions. Retrieved from https://www.saveearth.info/loss-

of-biodiversity/

Sharon Oosthoek.(2009). CBC News. Climate change turns conservationists into triage
doctors. https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-turns-conservationists-into-triage-
doctors-1.847983

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Biodiversity.

https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/biodiversity/en/

Villaggio Globale. (2009). Biodiversity is the Life Insurance of Life Itself.

https://www.vglobale.it/2009/01/10/biodiversity-is-the-life-insurance-of-life-
itself/#:~:text=Thus%2C%20biodiversity%20is%20the%20life,multiple%20sources%20for%20ec
osystem%20services
ANSWER KEY (PRETEST)

1. C

2. A

3. B

4. C

5. A

6. B

7. A

8. B.

9. D

10. B

11. D.

12. B

13. A

14. B

15. C

16. A

17. B

18. C

19. B

20. A

21. B

22. B

23. C

24. A

25. A

26. D

27. C

28. C

29. B

30. A