[a1] The Diversity of Organisms What is biodiversity? 1 All living things are known as organisms. There are many types of organisms that var location to another on Earth 2 Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms that exist on Earth. Periwinkle flowers elephants ‘earthworm mangrove trees, Photograph 1.1 Variety of organisms on Earth How does biodiversity exist? 1 There are many types of habitats and climates —WPY ls biodiversity important? that exist on Earth. This creates biodiversi i F . liversity, 1 Biodiversi ‘ ; 2 Animal and plants adapt 0 survive in a reeatetsity provides a variety of nat’ spective tats. " 3 Habitats the natural home where an omgani * Food source: A variety of fruits a lives, rganism, vegetables are food source for animals 4 For exam ican live humans BG ne cacti can ie Ho paseere Decaigs i are Products: Rattan and bamboo fio caves are modified , reduce plants are ust ical i en the loss of water through transpiration, iar ee pusicaliisent Biodiversity* Medicinal resources: The in some plants « forms of cancer © Resources for biotechnology: Certain plants produce useful products for humans « Resources for industries provide raw materials such active ingredients an be used to treat certain Plants also as timber for construction Photograph 1.2 A hut built from bamboo stems and the roof made from bertam and tepus leaves give shelter to the indigenous people Photograph 1.3 Produce of the forest are sold to increase the income of the indigenous people 2 Biodiversity provides ecological services. Ecological services are processes _and functions in the ecosystem that are useful to mankind. For example, decomposition and natural cycles. * Biodiversity contributes to a balanced nature. © Organisms interact with one another and with the environment through the processes of photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and decomposition of dead organisms. © These processes maintain the cycles of nature such as the oxygen cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle, thus forming a balanced environment. © Insects such as bees provide ecological services by assisting in the process of pollination and production of fruits. Fruits produce seeds and this ensure the continuity of species 3 Biodiversity generates economy because ¢ recreational forests are eco-tourism destinations © recreational forests provide job opportunities and increase the income of the residents. 4 Biodiversity * Biodiversity provides a large gene pool of flora and fauna © The larger the gene pool, the larger the genetic diversity 5 Biodiversity allows scientists to conduct research and training. Why do we need to preserve and maintain the biodiversity in Malaysia? 1 Malaysia is one of the 12 Mega Biodiversity countries in the world. 2 This is because Malaysia has 15 000 species of flowering plants, 1 500 species of land vertebrates and 150 000 species of invertebrates. 3 Malaysia also has several endemic species. 4 Endemic species are species that are only found in certain parts of the world and not elsewhere. * Example: The black shrew, Suncus ater, which is the world’s smallest shrew that can only be found in Mount Kinabalu © Paphiopedilum dayanum is a type of orchid that can only be found in Mount Kinabalu Paphiopeditum orchid black shrew Photograph 1.4 Examples of endemic species in Malaysia Effective biodiversity management 1 Living organisms need natural resources every day. Without these resources, life on Earth cannot be sustained. 2 There are various activities that can threaten the environment and deplete the natural resources. 3 Without effective biodiversity management, our natural resources including flora and fauna will face extinction.‘Water pollution Overdevelopment and unplanned development eed Onn activities that mean PON! Release of pollutants into the air which contributes to air pollution Effects of human activities on biodiversity 1 Human activities bring about many effects on biodiversit Bua ity as shown in the following thin en) activitie Biodiversity2 Therefore, we need to take steps to | Oe ae ‘Through education Managing the environment wisely ¢ Bducating the public by creating | | | * Reducing deforestation a | awareness about the importance | * Replanting of forest trees | of conservation and preservation | | | * Reducing the damage to the | of organisms through mas media | # Integrating knowledge about conservation and preservation in school curriculum environment caused by pollution and forest fires Restoring damaged habitats reserve and conserve biodiversity before it is too late Through legislation © Taking legal action against those who carry out illegal logging and hunting of wild animals | © Prohibit the selling of endemic and endangered species for commercial | purposes: Setting up protected areas for endangered species * Setting up centres and nurseries for animals protection ‘* Establishing rehabilitation centres for wild animals and endangered species. For example, the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre * Setting up forest reserves and nurseries for plant protection and plant propagation 3 Animals are classified into animals with Classification of Organisms backbones (vertebrates) and animals without backbones (invertebrates) 1 There are millions of species on Earth. Therefore, a systematic method of classification How are invertebrates classified? of organisms is needed to assist research and references by all parties at international level. 2 In the classification system, organisms are classified and grouped according to their common characteristics, earthworm crab spider Photograph 1.5 Some examples of invertebrates, Invertebrates ae = a Figure 1.1 An example of the classification of invertebrates 1 Photograph 1.5 shows some examples of invertebrates. Figure 1.1 shows an example of the classification of invertebrates More than three Segmented body Non-segmented pairs of legs “Tapeworm body Spider ‘Wort Sea sponge Prawn Leech ‘Sea anemone “Horseshoe crab Coral Scorpion oe Planaria Centipede _ SnailHow are vertebrates classified? ene dee ope ee 1 Vertebrates are animals with back bones fish, bird, re 2 Vertebrates are classified into five main groups, namely Mammal Bird Reptile ptiles, amphibian Fish Photograph 1.6 Several examples of vertebrates based on their classifications 3 The following Table 1.1 shows the characteristics of vertebrates. Table 1.1 The characteristics of vertebrates according to their classifications Mammals [Bird Ftp Amphibians Reptiles Warm-blooded | Warm-blooded | Gold-blooded | Cold-blooded animals Cold-bloodet animals animals animals (poikilotherms) animals (homeotherms) (homeotherms) | (poikilotherms) (poikilothems Body covered with | Body covered | Body covered | Body covered with moist skin Body covered hair or fur except | with feathers _| with slimy with dry, scaly anteater scales skins Give birth to young | Lay eggs lay eggs Lay eggs. Eggs without shells Lay eggs except for platypus and anteater Breathe through __ | Breathe Breathe * The young breathe through gills | Breathe lungs ‘through lungs | through gills | * The adults breathe through lungs through lungs when on land and through skin when in water ¢ Can live on land and in water Breastfeed babies _ | Has beaks Has fins and | Can live on land and in water | ~ tails to swim | Internal Internal External External fertilisation Internal fertilisation fertilisation _| fertilisation ferffisation Photograph 1.7 The platypus, found only in Australia (©) man How are plants class ied? 1 Plants can be classified into non-flowering plants, Classification of flowering plants 1 Many flowering plants produce flowers whi are their reproductive organs, flowering 20 2 Afier fertilisation, seeds are produced in fruits. Bac ch seed has a cotyledon.(Assessme wt Crocodiles are classified as 1 ne tf mii (c) Crocodile skin is used to make leather bags Mec aie) cpt eae er Boalt, th two reasons, [2 marks} (i), The body of the crocodile is covered! With Xnaiveel dry scaly skin , moist slimy scales), (a) (i) dry scaly skin ¥ (ii) Snakes are (cold-blooded , warm-blooded) (ii) cold-blooded 7 animals, ree (b) At shaded places that are protected from heat (b) Lizards are also reptiles. Where car go ae ¥ because a lizard’s body temperature could lizard in its natural habitat? Give a reason... ‘i ae too high if it stays under the Sun too ong ¥ aaa (©) Long-lasting Y and waterproof / Dicotyledonous plants 3 Food that is needed for the Monocotyledonous plants } seed germination is kept in the leaves with network-tike seeds consist of one cotyledon cotyledons. 4 Flowering plants are divided into monocotyledonous plants and dicotyledonous plants. 5 The differences between monocotyledonous plants and dicotyledonous plants are shown in Figure 1.2 eaves with| parallel P seeds consist of ‘two cotyledons Classification of non-flowering plants 1 Figure 1.3 shows the different types of non-flowering plants and their characteristics. ‘© Has leaves and small stems but no roots ‘© Reproduce through spores © Has needle-like leaves, stems and roots © Reproduce through seeds inside the cone (Fem _) © Has leaves, stems and roots # Reproduce through sporesThe dichotomous key .d to classify organisms. formed from a pair of two opposing characteris of opposin 1 The dichotomous key is a method uses 2 The dichotomous key is an identification key 3 The dichotomous key is written step by step. E that leads to the next step until the organism is id 4 The characteristics used must be the distinguishing ¢l instance, colour of body and body size cannot be used 5 An example of the classification of organisms that can be found in a school compound ys dichotomous key is given in Figure 1.4 y cach step consists of a pait lentified hharacteristics, clear and easy to idenig 2 ch 8 charact er Dichotomous key Go to number 2 Ja Animal 4b Plant Go to number 6 2a Have legs Go to number 3 2b Have no legs Go to number 5 3a__ Have 3 pairs of legs Go to number 4 3b — Have more than 3 pairs of legs Spider 4a Have wings Butterfly 4b Do not have wings Ant 5a Have shell Snail 5b Do not have shell Earthworm 6a —_ Produce seeds Go to number 7 6b Do not produce seeds Pine tree 7a — Flowering Bougainvillea plant 7b —_Non-flowering. Fern Figure 1.4 An example of classification of organisms in a school compound 1 Diagram 1 shows two types of leaves and two types of roots. -/( ms u @ Diagram 1 (58) aayWrite TRUE and FALSE §, = fe | Statement TRUE or FALSE e | __ RUE a) ___ a} [4 marks] F nh aicheve es herd| of oveerelen 2 h ws @ herd of pygmy elephants. These elephants are an endangered species. Photograph 1 (a) (i) What is a vertebrate? (1 mark] (ii) State two functions of skeletal system of a pygmy elephant. [2 marks] {OTS (b) Explain why Malaysia needs to maintain the effort to conserve and preserve the pygmy elephants. [4 marks] 3 (a) What is the meaning of biodiversity? [2 marks} (b) State one characteristic that differentiate monocotyledonous plants and dicotyledonous plants. [2 marks] (678 (c) Explain how biodiversity contributes to a balanced ecosystem. [3 marks] (d) Explain why Malaysia is considered one of the 12 Mega Biodiversity countries. [3 marks}