BIODIVERSITY, ECOSYSTEMS, and EVOLUTION

MODULE

❖ OVERVIEW/ INTRODUCTION
“No man is an island.”
9
All forms of life on Earth depend on each other for survival. Biodiversity itself is
comprised of all forms of life and all of its interactions. According to the definition of United
Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992, biodiversity is the variability among
living organisms from all sources, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, and the
ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes the diversity within species, between
species and between ecosystems. It is the most complex and most vital feature of our planet.
On the other hand, biodiversity itself is dynamic as it relies on the movement of the food web
and climate among other factors. In fact, huge global biodiversity losses are now becoming
apparent due to the crisis faced today—climate change.
In this module, we will explore how life on Earth interact and coexist with each other,
how biodiversity changes, and evolution.\

❖ LEARNING OUTCOMES/ OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, the learner should be able to

explain the levels of organization of life from the smallest to the highest level;
identify possible food chains from a food web; and
relate the concept of evolution to the dynamism of Earth’s biodiversity

❖ LEARNING CONTENT / TOPIC

Levels of Organization of Life

Living things, as we know it, exhibit different characteristics unique to non-living

things such as homeostasis, response to the environment, growth, development and
reproduction, and order. The latter means that there is a hierarchical organization in life
according to their function and impact to their environment. This organization continues at
higher levels in multicellular organisms and among organisms.
Cell is the smallest unit of life. It is composed of different organelles which perform
specific functions. An organism may be unicellular (single-celled) or multicellular. In larger
organisms, cells combine to form tissues to perform similar and more complex functions.
Organs are groups of tissues performing a common function. Organs are vital in multicellular
organisms. An organ system is a higher level of organization, consisting of functionally related
organs. For example, the digestive system of an animal consists of different organs such as the
stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines. A group of organ systems, functioning as an individual
living entity is an organism. All individual animals and plants are organisms; this also includes
unicellular organisms which are referred to as microorganisms.
All individuals of a species living within a specific area are called a population. For
instance, all bamboos near a creek forms a population of bamboo. On the other hand, different
populations may live in an area. For example, there are bamboos, maya birds, ants, fishes, and
microbes near the creek. All of the populations of different species in the same area forms a
community. A higher organization called ecosystem consists of all the biotic and abiotic (living
and nonliving things) in an area. A forest itself is an ecosystem, which includes a living
population and abiotic factors such as the nutrients of soil and rainwater. A huge region called
biome is a group of similar ecosystems affected by geographic area, climate and living
population, this includes desert biome, tundra, taiga, savannah, rainforests, and coral reefs
among others. At the highest level of organization, the biosphere is the collection of all biomes,
and represents the zones of life on Earth. It includes the lithosphere, hydrosphere and a part of
the atmosphere. These are the levels of organization of life on Earth.
Question: When are viruses considered as living organisms? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

(Proceed to Activity 1)

Interactions of Life on Earth

Life thrives in every environment on Earth, and each of those environments is its own
ecosystem where both living and nonliving things interact with each other. Ecosystems can be
as huge as the Amazon rainforest or as small as a rotting log. On the other hand, the larger the
ecosystem is, the greater number of smaller ecosystems may exist within it. For instance, the
canopy of the Amazon (treetops) have its own ecosystem, and the lower part and soil has its
own.
Organisms coexist in these ecosystems through relationships between species. For
example, mutualism occurs if both species benefit in the relationship. Bacteria in your intestine
live because of the digested food in your digestive tract; in return they provide helpful enzymes
and vitamins. On the other hand, species compete for scarce resources such as minerals and
water. This relationship is called competition. Look at a vegetable garden overrun with weeds:
the weeds compete for resources and space, leaving the vegetable grow smaller and weaker.
Predation happens between a predator and prey (a carnivore and herbivore, omnivore or lower
carnivore) while parasitism occurs between a parasite and a host, whereas the prey or the host
do not benefit from the relationship.

The relationship of species exists, most of the time, due to the food chain. Food chain
is the transfer of energy from one organism to another. The food chain (see Fig. 1) starts from
the producers (autotrophs) which converts the energy from the Sun into chemical energy
through photosynthesis. Then, its energy will be transferred to the consumers (heterotrophs)
which cannot manufacture its own food (www.biologydictionary.net/heterotroph/). The
primary consumers are plant-eating organisms (herbivore), then its energy will be transferred
when eaten by the secondary consumer (herbivore or omnivore), and lastly the apex predator
or the tertiary consumer (carnivore) is located at the top of the food chain, only consuming the
secondary consumer. When the tertiary consumer dies, it will be decomposed by bacteria,
fungi, etc. (saprotrophs).

Food represents a very concentrated form of energy. On the other hand, some of its
energy, when involved in energy transfer such as digestion and physical movement, will be
transformed into heat energy (Second Law of Thermodynamics). Organisms cannot utilize heat
energy as energy source. Since there is no perfect energy transfer, ecologist use the 10-percent
rule, as the standard ecological efficiency for transfer of energy. For example, the producer
contains 10,950 kcal, only 10% or 1,950 kcal will be transferred to the primary consumer and
so on. (see Fig. 2)

Fig. 1. A grazing food chain in a pond ecosystem. Note that phytoplanktons draw their energy
from the Sun through photosynthesis. Screenshot from
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/ecosystem/ecosystem-with-diagram/16629

Fig. 2. Energy transfer from the Sun to the food chain. Retrieved from Biology for Dummies (2 nd edition) p. 177
 In an ecosystem, there are multiple species in the same food chain level, creating a
diversity of energy source for them. For example, a small seed-eating bird may be eaten by a
rat, but since a snake is found in the ecosystem, it is expected for the snake to consume the
bird. This multiple pathways of energy and matter for through an ecosystem is called a food
web.

Fig. 3. Sample food web. Screenshot from

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_Introdu
ctory_Biology_(CK-12)/06%3A_Ecology/6.04%3A_Food_Chains_and_Food_Webs
Question: How do living things depend on each other to survive?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________
(Proceed to Activity 2)

The Concept of Evolution and its Relation to Biodiversity

Biodiversity is dynamic. All factors must be in a perfect condition to create a unique
biodiversity. The wide range or varieties of organisms in different periods of time in the
geologic time table shows how biodiversity changes. In addition, all species of living organisms
evolved at some point from a different species. Evolution is defined as the successive change
in inherited traits and adaptations of organisms over time. Though we cannot see evolution in
our lifetime, it is an ongoing process. The relation of evolution to biodiversity can be traced in
Charles Darwin’s voyage to Galapagos Islands, after discovering related animals in different
islands with different characteristics such as finches (Fig. 4).
On the other hand, the Theory of Evolution was contested by creationists as it
contradicts the teachings of the Church. Yet, there are evidences found that supports the theory.
Fossils provide solid evidence that organisms from the past are not the same as those found
today, hence showing a progression of evolution. Homologous structures also serve as evidence
for evolution such as the appendages of human, dog, bird, whale (shares same overall
construction) meaning that they originated from a common ancestor.

Fig. 4. Finches found in the Galapagos Archipelago. Screenshot from

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_Genera
l_Biology_(OpenStax)/4%3A_Evolutionary_Processes/18%3A_Evolution_and_the_Origin_o
f_Species/18.1%3A_Understanding_Evolution
Two natural processes of evolution are largely responsible for the rich biodiversity on
Earth: mutation and natural selection. Mutation is the alteration of genetic codes which contains
traits, resulting in a different physical variation of traits. Such changes can be beneficial or
harmful, or may have no influence on the species’ survival, depending on the environment. For
example, the camouflage of a brown moth on the bark of a tree. The moth gained its camouflage
for protection against predators.
On the other hand, natural selection, proposed by Darwin, means the variation of
phenotypes (physical traits) of a species due to the adaptation in environmental conditions.
These favorable traits are more likely to be passed on to the offspring, and use to survive,
reproduce and function. Over many generations, the percentage of individuals with adaptive
traits increase, thus adapting the whole population to a given habitat. For instance, the extinct
wooly mammoth had fur due to its cold environment during the Pleistocene (Last Ice Age), as
the climate became warmer, modern elephants emerged as a different species.
Proceed to Activity 3
❖ LEARNING ACTIVITY

ACTIVITY 1

The levels of organization of life can be found everywhere. Cite examples of the different
levels and explain its function relative to the characteristics of life. For example:
Lactobacillus casei is a unicellular organism which thrives in human mouth and in milk. It
produces a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme to aid digestion.

1. Cell:
___________________________________________________________________
____
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
2. Tissue:
___________________________________________________________________
__
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
3. Organ:
___________________________________________________________________
__
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
4. Organ System:
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
5. Organism:
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
6. Population:__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________________
7. Community:
_________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________
8. Ecosystem:
__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
________________
9. Biome:_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________
10. Biosphere:__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
_________________________

ACTIVITY 2

Activity 2. Refer to Figure 3. What are the food chains that can be derived from the food
web? How are those food chains possible? Write and explain your answers on the space
provided. You may use another sheet of paper if needed.
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
__________________________

ACTIVITY 3

Activity 3. The Galapagos Archipelago is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the
world. Its islands have different characteristics. Aside from the finches, Darwin observed the
varieties in land tortoises. What are the variations found in the animals found in each island?
How did they acquire those changes? Write your answer on the space provided. You may
add another sheet of paper if needed.
 1. Darwin’s Finches:
_____________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
2. Land Tortoises:
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
________________________________________

RECOMMENDED LEARNING MATERIALS

For further information, the following websites/books are recommended:
• https://www.biologydiscussion.com/ecosystem/ecosystem-with-diagram/16629
• https://youtu.be/TE6wqG4nb3M

FLEXIBLE TEACHING LEARNING MODALITY (FTLM) ADOPTED

The lesson can be learned solely through this module. On the other hand, the
instructor may give other requirements for completion and setup an online synchronous
discussion through SeDi or other platforms.

❖ ASSESSMENT TASK
DIRECTION: In your own words, explain how evolution affects the diversity of living
things. Write your answer below. You may use another sheet of paper if necessary.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________

❖ REFERENCES
Kratz and Siegfried. 2010. Biology for Dummies (2nd edition)
Mader and Winderlspecht. 2019. Biology. Mc Graw Hill Publication (13th edition)

Websites
• Evolution and the Origin of Species.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_
General_Biology_(OpenStax)/4%3A_Evolutionary_Processes/18%3A_Evolution_an
d_the_Origin_of_Species/18.1%3A_Understanding_Evolution
• Food Chains and Food Webs.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_
Introductory_Biology_(CK-
12)/06%3A_Ecology/6.04%3A_Food_Chains_and_Food_Webs