Makati Science High School

Osias St. Poblacion, Makati City

It’s More FUN in the Philippines!

BIODIVERSITY EDITION

STRATEGIC INTERVENTION MATERIAL

by

Jeanie P Martizano
Master Teacher I
““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 Soule, noted American
conservation biologist
 This strategic intervention material (SIM) is designed to
help broaden your understanding of the importance of biodiversity
GUIDE and the current status particularly in the country, and raising
community awareness about the threats to biodiversity. In turn, it
CARD is hoped that you will take action and contribute to the
preservation of biodiversity.

SIM
At the end of the course, the learner is expected to:
1. describe the status of biodiversity in one’s locality
2. make a personal and group vision for the future in relation to
OBJECTIVES biodiversity
 1. Take good care of this material. Do not write unnecessary
INSTRUCTIONS marks on it.
TO THE
2. Turn the pages gently. Avoid folding and tearing any
LEARNER
page of this material.
3. Read carefully and understand each idea presented.
4. Use a clean sheet of paper in answering the test and all

Ready to take the activities.

5. After answering the test, check with the answer key on
the challenge? the next page. Try not to look at the answers unless you
Get your paper are through taking the test.

and pen ready

You don’t need to answer the test again if you get a low score.
and turn to the Just read, understand and enjoy.
next page.
Good luck!
 BIODIVERSITY contributes to many
aspects of human well-being, for instance
by providing raw materials and
contributing to health. Human actions,
however, often lead to irreversible losses in
terms of diversity of life on Earth and
INTRODUCTION these losses have been more rapid in the
past 50 years than ever before in human
history. What factors are responsible for
this rapid loss of biodiversity? What would
need to be done to significantly slow this
trend?
 ECO-LOGO ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY Identify and give the meaning of the following symbols.

1
1. 4.

Check your 2. 5.
answers with
the key on
the next 3.
page.
 ECO-LOGO ACTIVITY

Were you able to

identify them 1. 4.
all?

If not, don’t worry.

An explanation for 2. 5.
each symbol is
provided.

Try working on the 3.

next activity. Turn
to the next page.
 WHAT and WHERE IN THE WORLD?

What and where in the world is the……

ACTIVITY
2 1. Largest flower
2. Smallest bat
3. Largest bat
4. Smallest hoofed animal

Check your 5. Smallest primate

6. Smallest commercial fish
answers with 7. Smallest fish

the key on 8.
9.
Smallest shell
Largest shell

the next 10. Largest fish

page.
WHAT and WHERE IN THE WORLD?

1. RAFFLESIA - Largest flower

Rafflesia is a genus of parasitic flowering plants. It contains approximately 28
species, all found in southeastern Asia, on Indonesia, Malay Peninsula,
Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand and the Philippines.

2. PHILIPPINE BAMBOO BAT - Smallest bat

The smallest bat in the world is the Philippine bamboo bat (vespertilionid),
which belongs to the vespertilionid family. This bat measures about four
centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in length and has a wingspan of 15 cm.
Approximately, it weighs 1.5 grams (1/20 ounce).

3. GOLDEN CAPPED FRUIT BAT - Largest bat

The giant golden-crowned flying fox, also known as the golden-capped fruit
bat, is a rare megabat and one of the largest bats in the world. It is
endemic to forests in the Philippines.
WHAT and WHERE IN THE WORLD?

4. PILANDOK - Smallest hoofed animal

South of Palawan, lies the Balabac Island, home of the world's smallest hoofed
mammal - the Philippine mouse deer. Locally known as Pilandok
(Tragalus nigricans), this ruminant stands only about 40 centimeters
at the shoulder level.

5. TARSIER - Smallest primate

Philippine tarsier (Tarsius syrichta) measures only about twelve centimeters in
length. Found in the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol and Mindanao,
the Philippine tarsier got its name from its elongated tarsus bone.

6. SINARAPAN - Smallest commercial fish

World's smallest commercial fish: Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) found only
in Lakes Bato and Buhi in Camarines Sur province. Sinarapan grows
to an average length of 1.25 centimeters, only slightly longer than the
dwarf goby.
WHAT and WHERE IN THE WORLD?

7. DWARF GOBY - Smallest fish

Pandaka pygmaea, the Dwarf pygmy goby, is a tropical freshwater fish of the
family Gobiidae. It is one of the smallest fish in the world by mass, and is
also one of the shortest freshwater fish. It is known as bia and tabios in
the Philippines.

8. PISIDUM - Smallest shell

Pisidum, the world's tiniest shell, can be found under Philippine waters.
Pisidum measures less than 1 millimeter long.
9. GIANT CLAM - Largest shell
The giant clam, Tridacna gigas, is a clam that is the largest living bivalve
mollusk. T. gigas is one of the most endangered clam species.

10. BUTANDING - Largest fish

Donsol, a fishing town in Sorsogon province, serves as a sanctuary to a group of
40 whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), which are considered as the largest
fish in the world. Locally known as "butanding", whale sharks visit the
waters of Donsol from November to May.
Were you able to
identify them
all?

What have you noticed

with where these
organisms are found?

Yes! Most are

endemic to the
Philippines.
Come on and let’s have more
Amazing right! fun learning about the
country’s biodiversity!
 Biodiversity is the measure of the number, variety and
variability of living organisms. It includes diversity within species,
WHAT IS
BIODIVERSITY? between species, and among ecosystems. The concept also covers
how this diversity changes from one location to another and over
time. Indicators such as the number of species in a given area can
help in monitoring certain aspects of biodiversity.

Biodiversity is everywhere, both on land and

In water. It includes all organisms, from microscopic
bacteria to more complex plants and animals. Current
inventories of species, though useful, remain incomplete
and insufficient for providing an accurate picture of the
extent and distribution of all components of
biodiversity. Based on present knowledge of how
biodiversity changes over time, rough estimates can be
made of the rates at which species become extinct.
 STATE OF THE PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY

The Philippines is a treasure trove of biodiversity or the

variety of life on earth. It is believed to harbor more diversity of life
than any other country on earth on a per hectare basis. It is in fact
one of the 17 megadiverse countries which host 70-80% of the world’s
biodiversity. Yet, Philippine biodiversity is alarmingly endangered,
making it a biodiversity hotspot as well.

As a paradise of biodiversity, the country’s terrestrial

ecosystems are home to many of the best and rarest wildlife species.
It has more than 52,177 described species, half of which are endemic
or found nowhere else on earth. There are more than 1,130 terrestrial
wildlife species recorded for the Philippines (49 percent or half are
endemic); 157 are threatened (128 are threatened endemic).
 Floral diversity is just as extraordinary, with between
10,000 and 14,000 species of vascular and non-vascular plants, more
than half of which are endemic to the Philippines. Altogether, the
country is host to some 5 percent of the world’s species of flora and is
ranked 5th in the world in terms of number of plant species.
The archipelago is also now recognized as one of the most
important centers of amphibian and reptile diversity in Southeast
Asia. An estimated total of 359 species of amphibians (101 species)
and reptiles (258 species) are now known in the country. Of the 359
species, 246 are endemic – currently the highest known percentage
endemism among vertebrates.
It is home to 576 species of birds (195 are endemic). This
record makes the Philippines the 4th country in the world terms of
bird endemism. About 45 species are either extinct in the wild,
critical, or endangered.
 With 174 mammalian species (111 are endemic), the
archipelago has the greatest concentration of terrestrial
mammalian diversity in the world and the greatest concentration
of endemic mammals in the world on a per unit basis. In the last 15
years, field researchers, mostly at high elevation areas, have found
new species, in particular of murid rodents, in Luzon, Mindanao,
and Mindoro. Several new species have been discovered in small
islands such as Sibuyan (five new species) and Camiguin (two new
species), catapulting these islands to a new status as centers of
mammal endemism. These recent discoveries demonstrate why it
cannot be assumed that all centers of endemism in the Philippines
have been documented. Unfortunately, the mammal assemblage
in the Philippines is the 8th most threatened in the world, with 50
threatened species.
 REFLECTION PAPER 1
DIRECTION: On a 1 whole sheet of paper, write your responses on the
following questions.
ACTIVITY
1. Differentiate between endangered and endemic.
3 2. The Philippines is known for its high species diversity and
endemicity, why is this so?

Ecosystem services are the benefits people obtain from

ecosystems. Biodiversity plays an important role in the way
ecosystems function and in the many services they provide. Services
WHY IS include nutrient and water cycling, soil formation and retention,
BIODIVERSITY resistance against invasive species, pollination of plants, regulation of
IMPORTANT? climate, as well as pest and pollution control by ecosystems. For
ecosystem services it matters which species are abundant as well as
how many species are present.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 1
DIRECTION: Make a matrix similar to the one shown identifying the
ACTIVITY importance of biodiversity. You may add more boxes as necessary.

4
Importance of Biodiversity
 Biodiversity provides many key benefits to humans that
go beyond the mere provision of raw materials. Biodiversity loss has
negative effects on several aspects of human wellbeing, such as food
security, vulnerability to natural disasters, energy security, and access
to clean water and raw materials. It also affects human health, social
relations, and freedom of choice.

WHY IS It is estimated that the current rate of species extinction is

BIODIVERSITY between 1,000 and 100,000 times more rapid than the average
LOSS A
CONCERN? 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
WHY IS years or so, efforts to protect and preserve biodiversity have
BIODIVERSITY
expanded exponentially. As you learn about the current threats to
LOSS A
CONCERN? 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.

THREATS TO There are many threats to biodiversity today. Biodiversity

BIODIVERSITY
loss in the Philippines stems from causes classified into six broad
categories.

The biggest ones can be remembered by using the

acronym H.I.P.P.O.W: Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution,
H.I.P.P.O.W.
Human Population, Overharvesting/Overexploitation and Weak
Institutional and legal capacities.
 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
H.I.P.P.O.W. cooking food. Habitat fragmentation, the loss of large units of
habitat, is also a serious threat to biodiversity.

Habitat destruction and loss can be traced to anthropogenic and

nature-wrought causes. Anthropogenic activities include destructive
and unsustainable practices such as:
logging,
fires,
land conversion,
siltation,
destructive fishing methods, and
encroachment (advance beyond proper limits) and occupancy in
protected areas.

Nature-wrought destructions
Volcanic eruptions
Earthquakes
Typhoon
HABITAT LOSS Pests
Diseases
 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
H.I.P.P.O.W. them, compete with them for food, bring unfamiliar diseases, modify
habitats, or disrupt important interactions.

The catfish, locally known as "janitor fish", were originally

introduced locally for aquariums but careless handling and weak
controls allowed them to escape into the wild — just like scores of
other animals and plants. "The ecological threat of invasive species is
so great, they could transform the landscape, wipe out native
species and destroy the diversity of the ecosystem," said government
wildlife specialist Anson Tagtag.

In the case of the suckermouth catfish, it has multiplied

faster than local species while competing with them for food and
building nests in mud banks, dirtying the waters. Filipinos generally
find janitor fish unpalatable so those that are caught by fishermen
go to waste.

Other invaders, such as the water hyacinth, were brought

into the country purely to decorate fishponds. Now this floating
water plant reproduces wildly, clogging water systems and
INVASIVE SPECIES
preventing sunlight from reaching other aquatic vegetation.
 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
H.I.P.P.O.W. 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.
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 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
POLLUTION
 Human Population: In the year 1800 there were less than 1 billion
people on earth, and today there are about 6.8 billion. Even without
the vast increases in per capita resource use that have occurred
during this period, the pressures on biodiversity would have
H.I.P.P.O.W. 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.

Overexploitation

Population pressure, poverty and paucity of livelihood opportunities,

dearth of values, and the "open access" nature of many bioresources
POPULATION all contribute to the overexploitation and non-sustainable use of our
country’s biodiversity.

Overharvesting: This includes targeted hunting, gathering or

fishing for a particular species as well as incidental harvesting such as
by-catch 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,
OVERHARVESTING and onboard processing.
 Major drawbacks in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
include:

inappropriate, overlapping, conflicting and obsolete policies and

H.I.P.P.O.W. institutions
shortage of technical expertise
shortage of funds
weak information, education, and communication capacities
inadequate policy mechanisms
poor integration of research and development activities.
WEAK
Many drivers affecting biodiversity are stronger today
INSTITUTIONAL
than they were in the past and are also occurring together. Because
AND LEGAL exposure to one threat often makes a species more susceptible to
CAPACITIES another, multiple threats may have unexpectedly dramatic impacts
on biodiversity. Drivers of extinction range from local to global in
scope and from immediate to long-term in their effects. For
example, the extinction of species due to habitat loss can be rapid
for some species, while it may take hundreds of years for others.

Along with its remarkable levels of species endemism, the

Philippines is one of the world’s most threatened hotspots. The call to
conserve and protect the environment is a concern of all.
 Direction: Put a check mark () on the column if the statement is
true to your community and cross mark () if otherwise.
ACTIVITY 5
COMMUNITY
STATEMENTS  / 
CHECK
1. Natural ecosystems can be found in our locality.

2. Solid waste segregation is implemented.

3. Factories and other commercial establishments are

REFLECTION PAPER 2 present in our community.
1. Describe your 4. Agricultural centers like poultries and piggeries can be
locality. (Use the found in our community.
checklist as your 5. Burning of garbage can be seen everywhere.
guide)
6. Tree planting projects and gardening are practiced in
our community.
2. Identify the benefits
of development. 7. We always experience flood when heavy rains pour.
8. The air we breathe is polluted.
3. When does
development
become a problem?
 DIRECTION: Using a fishbone diagram, identify the major factors
that contribute to the continuous decrease of biodiversity in the
country. Upon completing the diagram, answer the following
questions:
ASSESSMENT

1. In your own little way, how can you help in preventing

biodiversity loss in the country?
2. Why should biodiversity be everybody’s concern?
3. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2010 as the
International Year of Biodiversity. It aims to promote
conservation of biologically diverse ecosystems for sustainable
development. How can a student like you participate in such
endeavours of the United Nations?
4. If you were to draft a law on environmental awareness , what
would it be? What will be the features of this law? What would
be the sanction for violators?
 I pledge allegiance to Mother
ENRICHMENT Earth and to all life that it
ACTIVITY 1 nourishes.
All growing things, all species
of animals and all races of
people.
Now that you have
learned about the
I promise to protect all life in
state of your our planet. To live in harmony
community and of
the country’s
with nature.
biodiversity, doing And to share our resources
your part to conserve
and protect it is a justly, so that all people can
must. Write a pledge live with dignity,
to mother nature. See
the sample presented in good health and in peace.
 You are going to be a ‘shopping detective’. Starting with the products
you have at home or regularly buy, look to see if any information
about the following topics is provided on the product’s packaging.
Whenever you find some information, write down:
ENRICHMENT a) What the product is.
ACTIVITY 2 b) Which shop sells the product.
c) Which company makes the product. d) What is actually
written on the packaging about the topic.
Then go to some of your local shops and try to find some other
products that do contain some statements or information about
the topics listed below and do the same as above.

SHOPPING Use the following model:

DETECTIVE I bought (saw) some . . . in . . . made by . . .. On the packaging was
PORTFOLIO written . . ..
GM
Non-Animal Tested
Free-Range
Organic
Low chemicals
Recycled
Recyclable
Fair Trade
Information about Additives, Colorings, Preservatives etc;
Use of words like ‘Natural, Eco, Green, Good for the Earth, Please
dispose of properly’, etc. and why they are used on this product.
 Any other ‘eco- messages’ or logos
Health information
Biodegradable
ENRICHMENT Any other useful information supplied about the product
ACTIVITY 2
If you see this logo on a product, would you:
a) be more likely to buy the product
b) be less likely to buy the product
c) It would not affect my choice
d) I am more concerned about . . . (e.g. the price).
Give reasons for your choice.
SHOPPING
DETECTIVE How the portfolio will be presented is at your discretion, be
PORTFOLIO creative.
Include the product as much as possible, or have its picture taken
otherwise.
You must have at least 10 and a maximum of 20 products.
Follow the format given for each product.

You may consult me for sample shopping detective portfolios.

 http://www.deped.gov.ph/BSE/iDEP
http://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/biodiversity-foldout.pdf

REFERENCES http://www.psdn.org.ph/agenda21/action_biodiversity.htm
http://tsoktok.blogspot.com/2013/07/sample-strategic-intervention-
material.html
http://jhody.hubpages.com/hub/HOW-TO-DEVELOP-A-SIM-
STRATEGIC-INTERVENTION-MATERIAL
http://www.newcapp.org/about-philippine-biodiversity.php
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog030/node/394
Teacher’s Guide Unit 4 Module 1 pp186-187