GEC 6
Science, Technology, and
Society
Biodivers
ity
and
Healthy
*Determine the interrelatedness of society,
environment, and health
*Identify human- caused species loss as one of
the major current threats to biodiversity
*Define biodiversity hotspots and explain
where most of the world’s biodiversity are
located.
Biodiversity is the measure of the
BIODIVERSITY
number, variety and variability of
living organisms (includes all
organisms, from microscopic bacteria
to more complex plants and animals)
It includes diversity within species,
between species, and among
ecosystems.
The concept also covers how this
Functional Diversity Ecological Diversity
The biological and chemical processes such as energy The variety of terrestrial and
flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, aquatic ecosystems found in
communities, and ecosystems. an area or on the earth.
Genetic Diversity Species Diversity
The variety of genetic material The number and abundance of species
within a species or a population. present in different communities
Fig. 4-2, p. 61
ECOLOGY
Ecology is the study of the
interactions between
organisms and the
environment they live in
the environment is the
set of conditions that
surround an organism.
ECOLOGICAL LEVELS
OF ORGANIZATION
Organism- any unicellular or
multicellular form
exhibiting all of the
characteristics of life, an
individual.
Population- a group of
organisms of one species
living in the same place at the
same time that interbreed and
compete with each other for
ECOLOGICAL LEVELS
OF ORGANIZATION
Community- several
interacting populations that
inhabit a common
environment and are
interdependent.
Ecosystem- populations in a
community and the abiotic
factors with which they
interact (ex. marine,
terrestrial).
ECOLOGICAL LEVELS
OF ORGANIZATION
Biomes – distinct biological
communities characterized
by the dominant forms of
life and the prevailing
climate
Biosphere- life supporting
portions of Earth composed
of air, land, fresh water, and
salt water
ECOLOGICAL LEVELS
OF ORGANIZATION
Biomes – distinct biological
communities characterized
by the dominant forms of
life and the prevailing
climate
Biosphere- life supporting
portions of Earth composed
of air, land, fresh water, and
salt water
FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS
Producer- all
autotrophs (plants),
they obtain energy
directly from the
environment and use
an inorganic form of
carbon to build sugars
FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS
Consumer- all heterotrophs: they ingest
and obtain energy from primary
producers
Herbivores – Eat plants (Primary
consumers,
✔
preys)
✔ Omnivores -eat both plants and meat
Carnivores- eat meat (Predators –
Hunt prey
✔
animals for food)
FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS
Scavengers – Feed on carrion, dead
animals Detritivores - such as
earthworms and some insects eat
detritus: small bits of decaying
organic matter
Decomposers - breakdown the
complex compounds of dead and
decaying plants and animals into
simpler molecules that can be
absorbed (fungi, bacteria)
FOOD CHAIN
Food chain is a sequence of steps
by which some energy captured
by primary producers is
transferred to higher trophic
levels. An organism that
participates in one food chain
usually has a role in many others
as well.
FOOD CHAIN
Food chain is a sequence of steps
by which some energy captured
by primary producers is
transferred to higher trophic
levels. An organism that
participates in one food chain
usually has a role in many others
as well.
FOOD WEB
All of the food chains of an
ecosystem cross-connect
as a food web.
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the measure of the
number, variety and variability of
living organisms (includes all
organisms, from microscopic
bacteria to more complex plants
and animals)
It includes diversity within species,
between species, and among
ecosystems.
The concept also covers how
Functional Diversity Ecological Diversity
The biological and chemical processes such as energy The variety of terrestrial and
flow and matter recycling needed for the survival of species, aquatic ecosystems found in
communities, and ecosystems. an area or on the earth.
Genetic Diversity Species Diversity
The variety of genetic material The number and abundance of species
within a species or a population. present in different communities
Fig. 4-2, p. 61
Fig. 4-3, p. 61
Average annual precipitation
100-125 cm (40-50 in.)
75-100 cm (30-40 in.)
50-75 cm (20-30 in.)
25-50 cm (10-20 in.)
below-25 cm (0-10 in.)
Denver Baltimore
San Francisco
St. Louis
Las Vegas
Coastal Sierra Great Rocky Great Mississippi Appalachian
mountain Nevada American Mountains River Mountains
ranges Desert Plains Valley
Coastal chaparral Coniferous
Desert Coniferous Prairie Deciduous
forest grassland forest
and scrub forest
Fig. 4-4, p. 63
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Genetic Diversity
Ecosystem Diversity
Species Diversity
- the diversity of
- the amount of
genes within a
– the number of distinctive natural
species. Genetic
species of plants and ecosystems described
variability is
animals that are for a particular
essential for
present in a region. locatio
geographical
populatio a
maintaining n.
n.
healthy breeding
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Genetic Diversity Ecosystem Diversity
Species Diversity
GEC 6
Science, Technology, and
Society
IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Species and ecosystems provide essential goods and services upon
which human well-being depends. They support our health, our
environment and our economies.
ECOSYST ECOSYST
EM EM
SERVICE GOODS
S
• Water More than 7000 species
of plants are cultivated or
•
purification
• Pollinati
• Disease
on harvested from the wild.
control Fish and other marine animals
provide 20% of animal protein
•
consumed, at a value of $50-
$100 billion annually.
•Medicines - the top prescription
drugs in contain chemicals derived
from plants,
fungi and other species.
IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
• Maintains soil quality: healthy bacteria, algae, fungi, mites, millipedes
and worms help
cycle nutrients
• Maintains air quality: plants purify the air and filter harmful particles
out of the air
• Maintains water quality: variety of vegetation reduces erosion and
purifies water by removing (using or absorbing) nutrients and
pollution
• Pest control: most crop pests can be controlled by other organisms for a
longer period of time – helpful because many pests become resistant to
synthetic pesticides
• Pollination and crop production: More than 1/3 of world’s crops
rely on healthy pollinators
•
THREATHS TO BIODIVERSITY
• Habitat destruction/fragmentation – Changing and displacing a habitat to
suit human needs.
• Invasive species – organisms that has been relocated and introduced
to a region, these outcompete native species resulting in disruption
of the ecosystem and food chain
• Population growth - Increasing population means greater demand for food,
shelter, fuel and water; this often leads to habitat loss, pollution, resource
scarcity and overconsumption
• Pollution - Pollution can alter the habitat to the point where some plants and
animals cannot
adapt.
• Global Climate Change - many species are intolerant to changes in
temperature--affects feeding
relationships and breeding patterns.
• Overconsumption - Individuals consuming way more resources than
How Do Speciation, Extinction, and
Human Activities Affect Biodiversity?
Human activities decrease
causingearth’s
the
species the biodiversity
destroying or premature
by
degrading and
habitatsextinction
needed of
development of new species. by
Speciation for
One species splits into two or more species that can no the
Geographic
longer breed and produce fertile offspring
isolation
Adapted to cold
through
Arctic Fox heavier fur,
short ears,
short legs, and
short nose.
Northern White fur
population matches snow
for camouflage.
Spreads Different environmental
Early fox northward
and southward conditions lead to different
population
and separates selective pressures and evolution
into two different species.
Gray Fox Adapted to
heat through
Southern lightweight
population fur and long
ears, legs, and
nose, which
give off more
heat.
Fig. 4-8, p. 68
Extinction (1)
Biological extinction
Local extinction
Entire species gone
Endemic species vulnerable to
All members of a species in a specific area gone
extinction Background extinction
Speciation generally more rapid than
extinction
Extinction (2)
Mass extinction
Earth took millions of years to recover from
Balance between speciation and
previous mass extinctions
extinction determines biodiversity
of earth
Humans cause premature
extinction of species
Human Activities
Cause premature
extinction of
species
What Is Species Diversity and Why
Species diversity is a major component of
Is It Important?
biodiversity and tends to increase the
sustainability of some ecosystems.
A community with high species richness have
greater sustainability and productivity
What Roles Do Species Play in an
Ecosystem?
Each species plays a specific ecological
role called its niche.
Ecological Niche (1)
Species occupy unique niches and play specific roles in
an ecosystem Includes everything required for survival
and reproduction
Water
Sunlight
Space
Temperature
Ecological Niche (2)
Generalist
species
Specialist
species Native
species
Nonnative
species
Spread in new,
suitable niches
Keystone Species
-Significant role in their food web: large
affect on types and abundances of other
species in an ecosystem
-Elimination may alter structure and/or
function of ecosystem
-Pollinators
-Top predators
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
An endangered species faces
threats that may cause it to
become extinct within a
short period.
List of Endangered Species in the
Philippines
1. Philippine crocodile
2. Philippine eagle
3. Tamaraw
4. Bombon sardine (Tawilis)
5. Calamian and Philippine spotted
dear
6. Tarsier
7. Sea Turtles
8. Balabac mouse deer (Pilandok)
9. Wild pig (Babor Damo)
10. Philippine forest turtle
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
A threatened species is a species
whose population has declined to
the point that it may be at risk of
extinction.
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
An endemic species is an
organism exclusively native to
a place or biota.
List of Endemic Species in the
Philippines
1. Palawan fruit bat
2. Philippine flat-headed frog
3. Philippine dwarf kingfisher
4. Philippine flying lemur
5. Samar Squirrel
6. Visayan broadbill
7. Palawan flycatcher
8. Kalinga narrowmouth toad
9. Mindanao treeshrew
10. Mindoro Black Rat
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity hotspots are areas
that support natural ecosystems
that are largely intact and
where native species and
communities associated with
these ecosystems are well
represented
These are regions that continue to
experience an alarming rate of
destruction of important natural
resources that harbor biodiverse
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
To qualify as biodiversity hotspot a
region must meet two strict
criteria:
First, it must have at least 1,500
species of vascular plants as
endemic (endemism). which is to
say, it must have a high
percentage of plant life found
nowhere else on the planet.
Secondly, it must contain 30% or
less of its original natural
KEY TERMS IN BIODIVERSITY
Conservation biology is the
scientific study of
how humans impact organisms and
of the development of ways to
protect biological diversity.
KEY CONCEPT #1
Populations evolve when genes
mutate and give some individuals
genetic traits that enhance their
abilities to survive and to produce
offspring with these traits (natural
selection).
Human activities are decreasing
KEY CONCEPT #2
the earth’s vital biodiversity by
causing the premature
extinction of species and by
disrupting habitats needed for
the development of new
species.
Each species plays a specific ecological
KEY CONCEPT #3
role in the ecosystem where it is found
(ecological niche).
