UNIT 1

LESSON 3
BIODIVERSITY
AND EVOLUTION

The place we dwell on Earth is comprising of a considerable variety of biological organisms of genetic
variation. If you are in the farm, you will see different species of birds like chickens, ducks, and turkeys,
different kinds of animals like carabaos, cows, frogs, snakes, dogs, and cats, and a variety of plants in the
surroundings- it could be grasses, sedges, bushes vines, ferns, mosses and green algae. You will also
observe insects like dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, and a number of mosquitoes, bees
and ants thriving in their own habitat.

Environmental biologists have to look for means to preserve biodiversity and prevent the extinction of
this organisms. Especially, that human activities directly or indirectly contribute to the loss of
biodiversity of an ecosystem.
Lesson 1 - Population Density
Lesson 2 - Threatened, Endangered, Extinct
Lesson 3 - Major Causes of Species Extinction
Lesson 4 – Conservation of Species

1. Give the meaning of population density and determine the pattern of population distribution
using mathematical formula: Population Density = Number of Individuals/ Area
2. Identify the major causes of species extinction and the ways to reduce the rate of species
extinction;
3. Find out how changes in the environment can affect species extinction.
4. Enumerate the factors required to preserve biodiversity;
5. Make a multimedia presentation of a timeline of extinction of representative
microorganisms, plants, and animals.

Brain Gauge
Modified True or False: Write True on the space provided before each number if the sentence is correct.
If the sentence is incorrect change the underlined word or phrase that makes the statement false.
_______________1. Mass Extinction is the rapid increase in biodiversity.
_______________2. Introduced species are nonnative species that are transported to a new
habitat.
 _______________3. Overexploitation is the excessive use of species that have economic value.
_______________4. Bioremediation is a technique that uses organisms to remove pollutants
from a contaminated area.
_______________5. The Philippines is not considered a biodiversity hotspot.
_______________6. Extinction can be a natural and a man-made phenomenon.
_______________7. Members of the same species can produce nonviable offspring.
_______________8. Abnormal algal growth in bodies of water is a result of eutrophication.
_______________9. Low-risk species refers to the classification wherein no known species are
left.
______________10. The excessive use of species that have economic value is known as species
conservation.

Population pertains to the number of organisms of the same species living in a certain place.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an area.
Communities with many different species is known as a high index of diversity that could
withstand environmental changes better than communities with only a few species known as low
index of diversity.
Population sizes vary among organisms. They change with the number of births, and when they
move into (emigration) an ecosystem. They also change when members die or move out
(immigration) an ecosystem.
Limiting factors are environmental conditions that keep a population from increasing in size and
help balance ecosystems.
Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can support and is affected by
changes in the environment.

Biodiversity is the variability among living organism from all sources, including terrestrial, marine and
other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity
within species, and of ecosystem. Biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean
air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services. A
community dominated by one or two species is considered to be less diverse than one in which several
different species have a similar abundance. The following lessons will help you understand that
organism’s survival will depend on its response to the prevailing condition in the environment.

Lesson 1. Population Density

Population density is a key geographical term usually applied to living organisms, most of the
time to human. It is a measurement of population per unit area with a mathematical formula
Population Density = Number of Individuals/ Area
 What you need
Pen and Paper, calculator

1. The map below shows the population distribution of banana, spinach, coconut, mango and
eggplant in the farm of Mang Tano.
2. Identify the plants available in the farm and supply the data in the table below.
3. Calculate the population density of each organism. Show your solution.
Figure 1. Map distribution of Plants

100m

500m
Legend:

Spinach Coconut Mango Banana Eggplant

I. Observations:
Species No. of Population Density = No. of Individual
Individuals Area

Note: Area = L X W

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT (Write your answer in separate paper)

1. Which species has the largest population in the community? __________________________
Which has the least population? ___________________________________________________
2. Which population has the greatest density? _______________________________________
3. The greater the number of individuals in the community, the ______________________ its
population density.
 Populations can be of the same size, but they may have different densities. When we
consider the number of individuals per unit area, we are referring to the density of the
population. Population growth in a community may be attributed to the following factors such
as birth rate, death rate, immigration (move out) and emigration(move into) an ecosystem.
Anything that limits the size of a population like certain environmental
conditions are called limiting factors. Examples of limiting factors are the
availability of food, water, and living conditions. Light, temperature and soil
nutrients are also limiting factors because they help determine the types of
organisms that can live in an ecosystem. If the population size rises above the
carrying capacity, organisms die because they cannot meet all their needs.

The possible causes for the differences in the population density:

Availability of sunlight, nutrients, water or moisture; presence of other organisms that feed
on the plants; the space available to each individual organisms.

Lesson 2. Threatened, Endangered, Extinct

Population size is the estimated current total population of the species within the
specified area. But more more species are getting lost every year. In a few years’ time, some of
the surviving species will soon lost their existence in the habitat and the end of species
existence is known as Extinction. The species which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near
future are called Threatened species and those that seriously at risk of extinction in the near
future are the Endangered species.

Give an example
of endemic species?

What you need

Pictures
Pen and Paper

1. Classify the given species of plants and animals as threatened, endangered, and extinct.
2. Write TH for threatened, EN for endangered, and EX for extinct in the given pictures.
 4 . 5. . 6 .

7 . 8 9

10 . 11 . 12.

13. 14 . 15 .

16. 17. 18.

19. 20 . 21.
22 . 23. 24.

25.

Extinction is naturally continuous – the termination of a kind of organism. It is generally the

diminishing of the last individual of the species. The ecosystem has its own way to maintain balance,
though some species get extinct. The extinction creates scare because its rate is more rapid as before.
Environmental biologists is doing something to minimize the extinction crisis of species.

Organisms that are members of the same species have similar physical
characteristics and that they are capable interbreeding. Members of the
same species can produce viable offspring. .

There are two types of Extinction: Background extinction known as “normal or natural extension and
Mass Extinction.

Background Extinction is the standard rate of extinction before humans became primary
contributors of extinction of organisms. The rate is much slower.
Mass Extinction is a widespread and rapid decrease in the amount of biodiversity. It occurs when
the rate of extinction is faster that the rate of speciation (formation of new species).

Lesson 3. MAJOR CAUSES OF SPECIES EXTINCTION

Human activities occur at a faster rate and directly or indirectly responsible for the rapid increase
in the rate of loss of species in the ecosystem. This leads to the abnormal decrease in biodiversity posting
extinction of some species.

What you need

Pen and Paper
 The different major causes of species extinction are given below in rambled letters, arrange
the letters to form the word or group of words by supplying it in the box provided.

1. HTATABI SLOS DAN GRADETIONDA

Habitat is lost and degraded when natural or human- caused activities alter these places so that
fewer species can live there. Forest loss and degradation is mostly cause by the expansion of agricultural
land, intensive harvesting of timber, housing, roadways, and other hallmarks of industrial development.
Destructive and unsustainable human practices includes:

Forest Fires Deforestation Destruction of coastal resources

Mining Kaingin Farming Destructive Fishing Method

siltation (blocking of a certain area land conversion and invasion and occupancy
with loose mud or other materials) of protected areas

As a result, species tend to stay within the confines of the smaller part of their habitat. This causes
increased pressure in competition for food among species and decreased opportunities for finding
mates. A smaller piece of land or body of water would only support smaller populations.
2. DUCINTROTION OF EWN PESSCIE

In this scenario, some nonnative species are transported to a new habitat, either
intentionally oruntentionally. They could be a treat to the biodiversity of the habitat because
these nonnative specieshave no known predators, parasites or competitors that will keep the
species population in balance.

New species can parasitize, or prey upon residents, hybridize with them, compete with
them for food, bring new diseases, modify the existing habitats, or disrupt important
interactions in the community.

Here are some examples of invasive species in the Philippines:

Jumping Plant lice (Heteropsylla cubana) This was introduced by a

typhoon in 1980 and has affected almost all standing Ipil-Ipil.

Fire Ants (Selinopsis geminata). These insects have

Fiery and painful stings that have invaded native
Communities and affected many, if not all, of the
Animals and plants in the community.

American Cockroach (Periplaneta Americana) This is a pervasive house pest.

Freshwater snail (Pomacea canaliculata). This is popularly

referred to as the “golden apple snail”. It was introduced
in the Philippines from the United States in 1980. It
became a major pest of rice crops in many parts of the
country.
3. TIONPULLO

It changes the composition of air, soil, and water. Some of the toxic synthetic chemicals and heavy
metals have a huge impact on the species abundance and may lead to the extinction of species. This
includes pesticides (DDT – dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) and industrial chemicals (PCB or
polychlorinated biphenyl).

Eutrophication occurs when the concentration organic nutrients from garbage, animal wastes and other
substances that are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus flow to
water habitats causing algal growth. High nutrient run off
promotes excessive growth of phytoplankton in rivers and
lakes. When these organisms die, their decomposition
process consumes oxygen, while a dense population of it
increases dissolved oxygen
saturation during photosynthesis and decreases its
saturation during respiration. The lack of oxygen leads to a
condition hypoxia, which eventually leads to fish kill.

Acid Precipitation or acid rain also affects biodiversity. When fossil fuels are burned, they release sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere. These compounds react with water and other
substances in the air to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which are the substances that make up acid
rain. Acid rain removes important minerals such as calcium, potassium and other nutrients from the soil.
As a result, plants do not get the nutrients that they need to grow. This may ultimately lead to the death
of the plant species.

Figure 2. Acid Precipatation Process

Organisms ingest substances that may be harmful to them. These substances may
accumulate in their tissues. The process by which pollutants enter a food chain through the
organism in the first trophic level is called bioaccumulation. Once they enter the food chain,
these pollutants have the tendency to concentrate as they move from one trophic level to the
next. Organisms at the higher trophic levels, the ones that consume organisms in the lower
trophic level, would be the most affected because the concentration of toxic substance is
highest in the organisms found at the top of the food chain. The increase on the concentration
of a pollutant from one organism in a food chain to another is called biological magnification or
biomagnefication.
 Figure 3 Biological Magnification Process

4. EXOREVTIONPLOITA

This is the excessive use of species that have economic value. It occurs when the rate of
harvest exceeds the natural rate of replacement. Fishing, hunting, grazing, and logging are the
most common ways human exploit the natural resources. Overexploitation or overharvesting
can lead to resource destruction, including extinction of whole species, ecosystem degradation
and loss of biodiversity. Depleting the numbers of certain resources can also change their
quality. It can also result to cascade effects, if ahabitat loses its predator. A dramatic increase of
prey can then overexploit their own food resources until population numbers dwindle, possible
to the point of lossing its number in the ecosystem.

Trapping Hunting

Overfishing Logging

Taking marine and wildlife resources of economic val

 Explore

Activity: Stop Overfishing

What you need

Marshmallow pieces, chopstick, bowl, spoon, stopwatch, paper

Notes:

1. You will be a fisherman whose livelihood depends on catching fish.

2. The marshmallows represent the fishes.
3. You must catch at least two fishes (marshmallows) in each round to survivor, otherwise,
you are not allowed to fish again.
4. The chopsticks represent the fishing rods, and the bowl represents the lake. Use the
fishing rods to collect fish from the lake and deposit them into your boat (paper) with one
hand only.
5. The fish remaining in the lake are the breeding population; one new fish will be added for
every fish left in the lake.
6. You may invade other lakes when your lake is depleted.
7. Make a fishing log to record the number of fish caught.

Fishing

1. From groups of five members and think of a name for the lake.
2. Each member will take turns in replenishing the fish population and being the
timekeeper.
3. Fill the bowl with 20 marshmallows and place it at the center of the table.
4. When the timekeeper says “start fishing,” all of the members have 30 seconds to
“catch” some fish.
5. Each of you will count your catch, and record the number in your fishing log.
6. Add one fish for every fish left in the lake.
7. Repeat fishing, recording, and replenishing fishes for the second round. Continue until
you have completed four rounds.
8. After finishing four rounds, change the tool used for fishing. This time, use a spoon. This
represents the new technology discovered.

Sustainable fishing
Repeat the procedure above, but this time, think of a way wherein everyone will benefit
in the process. Fill in the tables 1 -3 Name of the lake:
Table 1. Fishing log (using chopsticks)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
 Table 2 Fishing log (using
spoon)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Table 3. Sustainable fishing

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT (Write your answer in extra paper)

 Did your lake run out of fish? What happened?

 How did you manage to make fishing sustainable to everyone?
 How does this activity relate to real lake and fishery issues?
 What other resources do organisms compete for?

5.MATELIC NGEACH

Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as
a result of human activities. Scientist are more than 95% certain that nearly the rise in earth’s
temperature is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) and other human-
caused emissions. Significant changes will be observe in climate system resulting to combinations of
increased average temperatures; changes in the global water cycle; increasing ocean acidity and rising
sea levels, continued loss of polar ice and montane glaciers; and altered weather patterns.

The ways in which climate change is expected to affect species are multiple and complex, but
are generally thought to include:

a Loss of degradation of important habitats and microhabitats.

b Changing of environmental thresholds like temperature, water availability/quality
beyond those that a species can tolerate.
c Loss of important interactions between two unrelated species, or the arrival of new,
negative ones, e.g. disease.
d The disruption of environmental cues for breeding and migration
e The direct loss of individual organisms. Or even populations, as a result of extreme
events.

Species affected in the above ways will either need to move to new, more suitable locations or
to somehow adapt to change at their current locations. Species that are unable to do this are likely to
perish, and in some cases may become globally extinct.
 Explore

Activity: Melting Iceberg

What you need
Solid ice Salt

Water Plastic spoon

Glass Bowl

1. Fill 1/2 water in the glass bowl. Then add the solid ice.
2. Sprinkle salt in the ice. Observe what happens.

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT (Write your answer in extra paper)

1. What happens when solid ice is put in a glass bowl of water?

2. As you sprinkle the salt in ice, what have you observed?
If you want to melt ice cubes faster, you have to lower the ice freezing point – make it melt into
lower temperature than normal. The easiest way to do this is to sprikle salt on the solid ice. Pure solid
ice contain only ice and water, which are said to be in dynamic equilibrium with each other. Adding salt
changes the conditions because the salt molecules dissolve in the water but do not pack easily into the
cluster of molecules in the solid. There are fewer water molecules on the liquid side because some of the
water has been substituted with salt, so the rate of freezing point drops.
When temperature rise and ice melts, more water flows to the seas from glaciers and ice caps,
and ocean water warms and expands volume. Due to heat changes, especially to relatively high
temperatures, the glacier meltin occurs – a process where the ice changes from solid to liquid or water.
There are a lot of organisms that rely on glaciers for continued existence. Some animals
requirethe cool temperatures for their day to day activities. Ceratin birds also rely on fish that are found
in freshly melting glaciers. Coral reefs need sunlight for the process of photosynthesis. When water
levels increase due to glacier melting, sufficient sunlightwill not be able to reach the coral reefs and they
will die. With the increasing water temperatures and water levels, the fish species that depend on the
corals for food will reduce and so will be the survivals of the birds and animals that are dependent and
adapted to the glaciers.

Lesson 4. CONSERVATION OF SPECIES

Environmental biologists seek to prevent the extinction of animals, plants, and other organisms by
developing ways to protect them. In addition, by recognizing the importance of other organisms,
the importance of conserving biodiversity is highlighted. Most often the significance of a
particular species is not felt until that has become.
What you need
Pen and Paper
The following are the factors needed to preserve biodiversity listed in the box. Use this word or group of
words to match with the given statements below. Write your answer in the space provided before each
number.
Factors needed to Preserve Biodiversity
Source of the best genes Entertainment value Sources of food

Usage of natural products Biological control Scientific value

Self- perpetuation Future potential Environmental services

_________________________1. As a new discovery are made concerning the importance of a particular

species, there will be more practical uses of biodiversity.
_________________________2. Medicines, fertilizers, pesticides, oils and other organic materials come
from other organisms.
_________________________3. Different varieties of plants, animals, fungi, and algae are used for
human consumption.
_________________________4. Selected organisms can be used for hybridization and genetic
engineering.
_________________________5. Diverse ecosystem has their own ways of preserving their existence.
Reducing their population would cause a cascade of effects that leads to endangering the species.
_________________________6. Some important processes such as nitrogen fixation, fertilization,
pollination, water storage, and soil aeration are essential to maintaining the equilibrium in the
environment.
_________________________7. Some organisms can be used to control invasive and destructive
species.
_________________________8. Botanic gardens, forest parks, beachfronts, water falls for examples, are
tranquil places where people can relax.
_________________________9. Biodiversity is the interest of many scientific inquiries ranging from
evolutionary science to biochemistry.
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild species and their habitats in order to
prevent species from going extinct. This ensures that future generations can enjoy our natural world and
the incredible species that live within.

Here are some ways to reduce the rate of species extinction:

1. Biological augmentation- This is an effective method of controlling pests suchas invasive

organisms. Natural enemies of invasive organisms are used to control the population of
these organisms.
2. Bioremediation – This is a technique that uses to remove pollutants from a contaminated
area by breaking them down and ingesting the hazardous substances in the environment.
3. Establishment of wildlife corridors – These are stretches of nature that facilitate the
migration of animals separated by roads, development, or logging.
4. Protection of biodiversity hotspots – This entails establishing protected areas where
biodiversity can flourish.
 A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant amount of biodiversity that is
threatened with destruction. Around 44% of all species of plants and 35% of all species of vertebrates
are confined to only 25 biodiversity hotspots. This comprises only .4% of the land surface of Earth. The
Philippines is one of these hotspots.

Figure 4. Biodiversity Hotspots

GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT (Write your answer in extra paper)

Name one factor that threatens biodiversity and suggest a way to preserve biodiversity in a real
life scenario___________________________________________________________________________.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is known for its assessment of the
conservation status of species and collection of the list known species. There are nine criteria for
classifying species. These are divided into three main categories, as shown in figure 5 and defined by
table
4. Examples are given in every category in Table 4.1.

T At Lower Risk

cd nt ic

Figure 5. IUCN Conservation Status

Table 4. Definition of IUCN criteria

CATEGORY CRITERIA DEFINITION

Extinct (EX) No known individual remained

EXTINCT
Individuals surviving are only bred in captivity
Extinct in the Wild (EW)
Critically Endangered (CR) Species are extremely high risk of extinction in the
THREATENE wild
D Endangered (EN) Species are at high risk of extinction in the wild

Vulnerable (VU) Species are at high risk of endangerment in the wild

Conservation Dependent Species in need of conservation effort

LOW RISK (cd)

Near Threatened (nt) Species mostly likely to become endangered

 Least Concern (lc) Lowest risk; species are populous
DATA DEFICIENT (DD) No sufficient data present
NOT EVALUATED (NE) Species has no evaluation

Table 4.1. Examples of organisms under IUCN categories

Criteria Scientific Name Common Name
Extinct in the Wild (EW) Crateromys paulus Ilin Island Cloudrunner (Phil)
Date of extinction: April 4, 1953
Critically Endangered (CR) Zenaida graysoni Socorro Dove (Mexico)
Endangered (EN) Oreomystis bairdi Kauai creeper (Hawaii)
Vulnerable (VU) Elephas maximus Asian Elephant (Sri Lanka)
Conservation Dependent (cd) Rhincodon typus Whale Shark (Philippines)
Near Threatened (nt) Panthera onca Jaguar (Paraguay)
Least Concern (lc) Ara macao Scarlet Macaw (Peru)

References:
Science & Technology II: Biology LM. NISMED 2012 pp. 328-329
Science & Technology I: Integrated Science Textbook NISMED 2012 pp 146 -147
Science for the 21st Century Learner (K to 12), DIWA, 2015 pp. 44-55
Https://hubpages.com Https://species.weebly.com
https://www.tentree.com
https://geographyfieldwork.com