BIODIVERSITY

STS Module 8
Objectives
After reading and doing the tasks in this module, you should be able to
A. Cite benefits of biodiversity
B. Discuss how anthropogenic activities threaten biodiversity
C. Draw a diagram showing the link between S&T, biodiversity and society’s
worldview
D. Propose actions to mitigate biodiversity loss
Warm-Up
DISCUSSION
WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
Biodiversity
• Term coined by WG Rosen in 1985
• “the variety among living organisms, which includes animals,
plants, microbes and the habitats of which they are a part”
(National Geographic Society)
• Defined by Convention on Biological Diversity as, “the variability
among living organisms from all sources…”
 Levels of Biodiversity
1. Genetic Diversity – variability within the same species
 Levels of Biodiversity
2. Species Diversity – variety of different species within an area

Ex. A forest has more species diversity compared to same area of coconut
plantation
a. Species Richness – number of species that live in a certain area
b. Species evenness – even distribution of organisms in a place
 Levels of Biodiversity
2. Species Diversity – variety of different species within an area
 Levels of Biodiversity
3. Ecosystem Diversity – different types of
communities of organisms interacting with
their physical environment. Also includes
ecosystems whether managed or unmanaged

a. Aquatic ecosystems – coral reefs,

mangrove forests, estuaries
b. Terrestrial ecosystems – deserts, forests,
grasslands, tundra, savannah
WHAT ARE THE
BENEFITS OF
BIODIVERSITY?
Benefits of Biodiversity
1. Natural resources
• Food,
• Shelter and Clothing,
• Medicine and Drugs,
• Industrial raw materials,
• Germplasm and Genetic stocks
2. Natural services- cleaning air, purifying water, regulating climate
3. Aesthetic and recreational benefits – Natural landscapes in undisturbed
places
Philippine Biodiversity
The Philippines is one of the 18 mega-bio-diverse countries in the world
Philippines is also considered a “biodiversity superstar”
It is believed that the degree of endemism in its many islands is high
Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic
location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type
Philippine Terrestrial Biodiversity
Nepenthes copelandii
(Copeland’s Pitcher Plant)
- Native in Mindanao Sundasciurus samarensis
- Grows in Mt Apo and Mt -Species of rodent in the
Pasian in Davao Sciuridae family
-Samar Squirrel

Cinnamomum cebuense
(the Cebu Cinnamon tree)
- Species of cinnamon Ceyx melanurus
endemic to Cebu -Philippine dwarf
- Can be found also in kingfisher
Camotes and Siquijor - A species of bird in
the Alcedinidae
family
Philippine Marine Biodiversity
Philippines Fourth National Report to the
Convention on Biological Diversity (2009):

In the Philippines there are “468 scleractinian

corals, 1,755 reef-associated fishes, 648 species of
mollusks, 19 species of seagrass and 820 species
of algae (Fishbase 2008, BFAR-NFRDI-PAWB,
2005)”“Fishbase records indicate that the country
harbors about 3,212 fish species (list still
incomplete), 731 of which are considered
commercially important”The Philippines has the
second highest seagrass diversity in the world,
second only to Australia.

-Haribon Foundation
• Philippines is considered as
biodiversity hotspot because it
continues to experience alarming
rate of destruction of its natural
resources
 Bubalus mindorensis (Tamaraw)
- Dwarf buffalo that lives in Mindoro
- A century ago, they number at 10,000;
- Today, there are less than 200 remaining

Areca ipot Sardinella tawilis

- Stocky tree with deep - Only freshwater sardine
orange fruit found only in Lake Taal
- Nuts are used for betel-
chewing
- Threatened due to over
collection for
ornamental purposes
Threats to Biodiversity
• Biodiversity is an indicator of an ecosystem’s resilience
• The more diverse the species in an area, the more they can withstand stress
• When an ecosystem is left alone in its natural condition, diversity is sustained
• When ecosystem is disturbed, diversity tends to decline
 Threats to Biodiversity
1. Habitat loss or destruction (ex. Pithecopaga jefferyi or Philippine Monkey-Eating
Eagle)
Threats to Biodiversity
2. Overexploitation of resources
Threats to Biodiversity
3. Invasive Alien Species
 Threats to Biodiversity
4. Pollution
Threats to Biodiversity
5. Climate change • “Driving forces of Philippine CO2
emissions are revealed using
LMDI approach.
• About half of the increase in
CO2 emissions are due to
economic growth.
• Sudden shifts in energy
structure significantly increase
CO2 emissions.”

(Sumabat, A., et.al, 2015)

How can biotechnology help the study
and conservation of biodiversity?
1. Molecular markers can be used to study or to identify species.
2. Genetic markers can be used in plant and animal breeding.
3. Plant and animal cell and tissue culture can rescue endangered species.
4. Cryopreservation technology can store germplasm indefinitely.
Law and Regulations on Biodiversity
• The goal is local, national, and international level of saving biodiversity in a
sustainable and equitable way
• 1992 Rio Earth Summit hosted the Convention on Biological Diversity
1. Conservation with emphasis on in-situ conservation of ecosystems
2. Sustainable use of components of biodiversity in promoting development
practices
3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources
Photo Credits
• Slide 7:
• Slide 8:https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_California_Davis/BIS_2B
%3A_Introduction_to_Biology_-_Ecology_and_Evolution/2%3A_Biodiversity/
2.2_Measuring_Species_Diversity
• Slide 10: https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/meaning-of-biodiversity-1440148279-1Slide 12:
• Slide 12, 13,16,: https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_18
• Slide 21:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Triangle
• Slide 25: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2017/10/18/phls-natural-resources-near-brink-of-depletion/
• Slide 25: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1116421
• Slide 27: NAST Philippines
• Slide 28:https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/09/24/1742193/philippines-third-worst-polluter-oceans-
report-says
 References
• https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.12.023
• https://haribon.org.ph/philippine-marine-biodiversity-a-brief-profile/#:~:text=In%20the%
20Philippines%20there%20are,incomplet
• https://www.esa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/biodiversity.pdf
• https://repository.seafdec.org.ph/bitstream/handle/10862/2511/AFNv12n03_pp02-03.pdf
• https://eatlas.org.au/content/what-biodiversity#:~:text=Genetic%20Diversity%20is%20th
e%20diversity,populations%20of%20the%20same%20species).&text=Species%20Divers
ity%20is%20simply%20the,population%2C%20ecosystem%2C%20Earth
).
• https://www.icr.org/article/mechanisms-adaptation-biology-genetic/