STS 01/11

Harlene Christine D. Dugay

Instructor 1
[email protected]

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Chapter 3
Other Topics: Biodiversity
 Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the students must have:
1. identified the causes of climate change
2. assessed the various impacts of climate change including
economic, geopolitical, biological, meteorological, etc.
3. applied STS concepts to the issue of climate change
4. apply strategies to protect the ecosystem
5. researched, presented and made a stand on S&T issues that
currently affect the society

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Biodiversity
• Defined as the variety of all forms of
life that can be found on earth.
• It was coined as a contraction of
“biological diversity”
• It constitutes every living thing,
including plants, fungi, animals,
microorganisms such as bacteria and
protozoa, and humans.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Biodiversity
Is comprised of several levels, it ranges from
genes to individual species and the different
ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts,
rainforests, aquatic and coral reefs.
o They are all part of the biologically
diverse Earth, where life interplays
with the physical environment.
o These countless interactions have
made Earth habitable for billions of
years.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Biodiversity
It was estimated by the scientists that there are
around 8.7 million species of plants and animals in
existence on Earth, with other one and a half
millions species already identified and described.
o Fishes are the most numbered vertebrate
animals while insects are the most numbered
invertebrate animals found on Earth.
o Angiospermae or flowering plants dominated
the plant species

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Biodiversity
• Some areas in the world have more biodiversity than others.
• Areas with extremely high levels of biodiversity and at endangered or threatened status
called hotspots.
• Endemic species are species of organisms that are only found in one particular or specific
location and are also found in hotspots.
• It is a fact that biodiversity enhances ecosystem productivity, each species present in a
community, no matter how small, have an important role to play.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity
Species Biodiversity
• A species is a group of living organisms
that can interbreed and found within a
discrete geographical boundary or area.
• It is the different of species of plants,
animals, fungi, and microorganism
present in a specific area.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity
Species Biodiversity
• Plants are producers, animals are
consumers and fungi and bacteria are
decomposers.
• Each species of living things play a
significant role in the maintenance of
community and ecosystem.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity
Genetic Biodiversity
• It is the variation within species as measured by variation of
gene (alleles) within a particular variety, subspecies or breed.
• This serves as a way for population to adapt to changing
environment.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity
Genetic Biodiversity
• A helpful way to understand genetic diversity is to think that
no two individual of the same species are identical.
• The capability of the population to adapt to the changing
environment will depend on the presence of the necessary
genetic diversity.
o The more genetic diversity a population has, the more
likelihood the population will be able to adopt and
survive.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity

Ecological Biodiversity
• Is the diversity of ecosystems, natural communities and habitats within a geographical
area.
• These include the variation in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity

Ecological Biodiversity
• Terrestrial ecosystems are deserts, forest, grassland, wetlands and cold lands.
• Aquatic ecosystems are generally divided into marine and freshwater ecosystem.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity

Ecological Biodiversity
• It is the biggest scale of biodiversity wherein within each of
the ecosystems there is great existence of species and
genetic diversity.
• There is more biodiversity within tropical ecosystems than
temperate or boreal ecosystems.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Three Types of Biodiversity

Ecological Biodiversity
• Tropical rainforests have the most diversity because the
conditions in this area support the survival of most of the
species and are more stable.
• An ecosystem with more structural complexity harbor more
species.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Invertebrates
• They are the most diverse group of animals and have a
worldwide distribution.
• They refer to those animals without backbones, including
insects, crustaceans, spiders, jellyfish, sponges, scorpions,
crabs, snails, clams, and squid.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Invertebrates
• Serve as food for humans and are key elements in food
chains, however, there are invertebrates that are especially
important as agricultural pests, parasites, or agents for the
transmission of parasitic infections to humans and other
vertebrates.
• Over half of all the animals already identified are
invertebrates, insects being the most diverse and beetles are
some of the most numerous species.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Philippine Biodiversity
• The country is considered one of the most biologically
diverse countries of the world.
• Because of its geographical location that provides diverse
habitats.
• Is one of the 17 mega biodiverse of world’s plants and
animal species.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Philippine Biodiversity
Its biodiversity is unique and have high
rate of endemism.
o It is 5th in the world for most
number of endemic species.
o It is 4th for bird endemism
o It is 2nd for all species of
butterflies.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines

Mouse deer
• One of the smallest deer that is
endemic to the Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines

Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis)

• The world’s smallest commercial
fish (Guinness Book of World
Records), at present Sinarpan is
considered endangered.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines
Tawilis (Sardinella Tawilis)
• The commercially important
Sardinella species usually thrive in
marine environments with an
exception is Sardinella tawilis of the
Philippines, the only known
freshwater sardine.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines

Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis)

• Is the only native bovid to the
Philippines and is the largest
native land animal.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines
Philippine Eagle or Monkey-eating
Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
• Can be found in rainforest of four
major Philippine islands 112 – Luzon,
Samar, Leyte and Mindanao.
• At present, it is critically endangered.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines
Jane vine or Emerald creeper
(Strongylodon macrobotrys)
• Vine plant first discovered on Mt.
Makiling.
• It is a rare and an endangered
species because of over collection
in the wild.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Endemic Species in the Philippines
Waling-waling (Esmeralda
sanderiana)
• The queen of the Philippine orchids.
• Recognized as one of the most
beautiful orchids on the world.
• It is found in the primary forest of
Mt. Apo.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Biodiversity is priceless for the wide array of benefits and functions.
o It allows us to live a healthy and happy lives.
o It provides us with an array of foods, clothing, and materials for shelter and it
contributes to the economy.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Higher diversity results in longer food
chains and more cases of interactions
among species.
o The higher diversity of
pollinators and plants results in
more food, vegetables and
fruits to produce.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Biodiversity is significant in completing
the final breakdown and recycling of
organic materials from remains or wastes
or organisms to be available substances.
o It is substantial in providing oxygen
for us to breathe – one of the many
things that plants do for people.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Most medical discoveries to cure diseases and lengthen life spans were made because
of research into plant and animal biology and genetics that could be used as source
of drugs and medicine.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Biodiversity allows ecosystem to adjust to disturbances like extreme fires and floods.
o A forest with diverse plants is likely to adapt than a forest with fewer species of
plants in their environment.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Genetic diversity helps species prevent
diseases and adjust to changes in their
environment.
o Selection for or against a trait can
occur with a changing environment
resulting from either increase or
decrease in genetic diversity.
o Genetic diversity plays an important
role in the survival and adaptability
of species.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
Genetic diversity helps species prevent diseases and adjust to changes in their
environment.
o The vulnerability of a population to changes, such as climate change or
novel diseases will increase with a reduction in genetic diversity.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
• It helps in the maintenance and stability of water functions.
• Natural vegetation makes the soil permeable to rainwater regulating
and stabilizing water runoff.
• Forest areas buffer drought or flood and regulate temperature and
precipitation.
• It provides venue for the development of wholeness of man through
recreational, scientific, educational, spiritual and aesthetic values.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
The Philippines’ biodiversity provides several
ecosystem services.
o It provides food, water, energy sources,
pharmaceuticals, biomass fuels, carbon
sequestration, climate regulation, crop
pollination, cultural and spiritual
inspiration, and ecotourism value.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
 Significance of Biodiversity to
Human, Health and Ecosystems
An ecosystem that is under stress or
threatened will result in reduced
individuals or reduced diversity.
o If population of organisms is
overexploited, the population may
not be able to maintain itself and will
result in the extinction of species.

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES Department of Languages

Department of Physical& Literature
Sciences
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