LESSON 4.

BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
 Biodiversity

LIFE VARIETY

-It is the degree of variation of life forms

within an ecosystem or entire planet.
• To date, taxonomists have formally named and
classified as close to about two million species.
• Scientists estimate the number of species to be
8.7 million.
• Diverse organisms in a certain region increases
the stability of an ecosystem and the overall
health of the biosphere.
 SPECIES
→ is a set of individuals that have the same
distinct characteristics and are able to
mate and produce fertile offspring.
 Biodiversity consists of the entire range of
living organisms across levels of
organization:
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY – the
variety of ecosystems within a
given region.

SPECIES DIVERSITY - the

variety of species in a given
ecosystem.

GENETIC DIVERSITY – the

variety of genes within a given
species.
 Biodiversity

Ecosystem Species Genetic Functional

 GENETIC DIVERSITY
• Refers to the total of the variety of genes or
inheritable characteristics present in a
population of organisms.
• Genetic diversity includes traits such as
differences in color, size, ability to run fast
from predators, or ability to fight off diseases.
Examples of Genetic Diversity:
 SPECIES DIVERSITY
• Refers to variety of life forms and the number
of each species present in a biological
community.
Species richness – the number of different kinds of
species in a particular area.
Species abundance – the number of the individual
members within a particular species.
Species evenness - refers to how close in numbers each
species in an environment is.
→HIGH SPECIES
RICHNESS AND
SPECIES
EVENNESS
(high number of plant
species)

→ HIGH SPECIES
RICHNESS AND
HIGH SPECIES
ABUNDANCE
(high number of plant A)
• On Earth, the richness of biodiversity varies
from one place to another because of several
factors:

Size of an area
Climate
Niches (refers to the roles of organisms)
 ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
• Refers to the variety of ecosystems in a
biosphere.
• Includes the terrestrial ecosystems/biomes
(tropical rainforests, grasslands, coniferous
forests) and aquatic ecosystems (coral reefs,
mangrove forests, vast seas, and lakes)
 FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY
• Refers to the biological and chemical processes that
includes energy flow, biogeochemical or nutrient cycle,
and interaction of organisms.
• Some biotic factors get their energy from the sun, while
others eat other biotic factors. As a result, energy flows
in ecosystems.
• For most ecosystems, the ultimate energy source is the
sun.
• Producers use photosynthesis to convert sunlight to
energy
 Functional diversity includes interactions
between organisms

1. Mutualism
-where both species benefit with each other.
Example:
o Pollinators and flowers
o Crocodile and bird
2. Competition
-where organisms tend to compete for food,
shelter, and other needs.
Examples:
o Tiger and Lion
o Neighboring plants
3. Parasitism
- Wherein the parasite benefits from the host.
Example:
o Fleas and dogs
o Tapeworms and cats
4. Commensalism
- A type of relationship in which one benefits
and the other derives neither benefit nor
harm.
Example:
o Plants/trees and frogs
5. Predation
- wherein an organism eats another organism.
Example:
o Cat (predator) and mouse (prey)
Organisms in an ecosystem are grouped as
producers, consumers, and decomposers.
• Producers
 organisms that get their food and energy
from the sun (PLANTS).
organisms that can make their own food.
• Consumers
organisms that get their energy and food from
eating other organisms.
• Decomposers
organisms that break down the remains and
wastes from dead organisms.
They break down the dead and decaying
organic matter into simpler substances and
provide the nutrients back to the soil.
(MUSHROOMS, EARTHWORMS, BACTERIA)
Without decomposers, Earth will be
overwhelmed with plant litters, animal
wastes, dead bodies of organisms, and wastes.
 FOOD CHAIN

FOOD WEB
END