SCIENCE-10

QUARTER 3
WEEK 7
 ECOSYSTEM:
BIODIVERSITY
Most Essential Learning Competencies:
Explain how species diversity increases the probability of
adaptation and survival of organisms in changing
environments (S10LT-lllh-41)

Explain the relationship between population growth and

carrying capacity
(S10LT-llli-42)
An ecosystem is a geographic area where
plants, animals, and other organisms, as well
as weather and landscape, work together to
form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain
biotic or living, parts, as well as abiotic
factors, or nonliving parts.
Biodiversity ;refers to the amount of diversity
between different plants, animals, and other species
in each habitat at a time. The different varieties and
types of animals and plants that live in the ocean is
an example of biodiversity. Biodiversity boosts
ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter
how small, all have an important role to play. For
example, A larger number of plant species means a
greater variety of crops. Greater species
diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life
forms.
It has been shown that biodiversity of an area has
a large impact on the ecosystem stability of that
area. Ecosystem stability is the capability of an
ecosystem to remain constant despite changing
environment, number of species, population sizes,
and interactions. If an ecosystem is unstable, one
small change could cause many species to die and
if an ecosystem is stable, it does not change easily.
Ecosystem is the community of living things
interacting with the environment and Organisms
are part of biodiversity and may be economically
and ecologically valuable.
Values of Species:

Direct economic value - If their products are sources of food, medicine,

clothing, shelter and energy. For example are medicines extracted from
plants.

Indirect economic value - If there are benefits produced by the organism

w/out using them. For example certain species cycle materials in the soil
and absorb pollutants.

Aesthetic value - A lot of species provides visual or artistic enjoyment,

like a forested landscape and the calming beauty of a natural park; or
they may be used for spiritual meditation like the Prayer Mountains.
Stability

Resilience to withstand changes that may occur in the

environment. There are many changes that occur in the
environment which may be a result of natural or human
activities. These changes may severely reduce
biodiversity and result to the instability of the ecosystem.
Population

A group of organisms of the same species that

live in a certain area.

Birth Rate - Number of births in a population.

Death/Mortality Rate - Number of deaths that
are dying in a population
The Ups and Downs of Population Growth

There are many factors that can cause a population’s size to change. But
first, you must understand the basic reasons behind why a population
increases or decreases. Any population, whether it be that of humans,
animals, the mold growing on bread, or the bacteria living in your
intestines, will grow if more organisms are being developed (Genetically
modified organisms), or born, than are dying. The number of births in a
population is called the birth rate (natality). The number of organisms that
are dying in a population is called the death rate (mortality). Thus, if the
birth rate is greater than the death rate, a population will grow. If the death
rate is greater than the birth rate, then the population will decrease.
Population Density

While populations would probably to continue to grow in

size, a population of organisms cannot grow forever—its
growth will be limited, or stopped, at some point, and the
death rate will be greater than the birth rate. A
population’s growth is limited by two general factors:
density-independent factors and density dependent
factors.
To understand why scientists named these factors in the
way they did, you must first understand the concept of
population density. Population density refers to the
number of organisms per unit area. If a population’s
density is very high, that means there are a lot of
organisms crowded into a certain area. If a population’s
density is low, that means there are very few organisms
in an area.
Limiting Factors

Density-independent limiting factors that can stop a population from

growing can be such things as natural disasters, temperature, sunlight, and
the activities of humans in the environment. Natural disasters such as
tropical cyclones, floods, earthquakes and fires will stop a population from
growing no matter how many organisms are living in a certain area. The
same goes for the temperature of an area and the amount of sunlight it
receives. If the temperature increases due to global warming, this will cause
a decrease in a population’s numbers, no matter how large or small the
population was to begin with. Human activities that alter the environment will
also decrease the number of organisms in a population, regardless of the
size of a population.
Density-dependent limiting factors come into play
when a population reaches a certain number of
organisms. For example, when a population reaches a
certain size, there won’t be enough resources (food,
shelter, water) for all of the organisms. This could cause
the population to stop growing when it reaches the
maximum number of organisms that can be supported, or
“carried,” by the environment. This number is known as
the population’s carrying capacity in a particular
environment.
Carrying Capacity

Each population of organisms has a different carrying

capacity, depending on the amount of resources available
in the area in which it lives. Before a population reaches
its carrying capacity, it experiences a period of rapid
growth. This period of growth is called exponential
population growth.
When resources are unlimited, populations exhibit
exponential growth, resulting in a J- shaped curve. When
resources are limited, populations exhibit logistic growth.
In logistic growth, population expansion decreases as
resources become scarce, and it levels off when the
carrying capacity of the environment is reached, resulting
in an S-shaped curve.
Limiting Factors that depend on population
density:
Density-dependent limiting factors tend to
be biotic—living organism-related—as opposed to
physical features of the environment. Some
common examples of density-dependent limiting
factors include:
Competition within the population. When a population reaches a high
density, there are more individuals trying to use the same quantity of
resources. This can lead to competition for food, water, shelter, mates, light,
and other resources needed for survival and reproduction.

Predation. Higher-density populations may attract predators who wouldn’t

bother with a sparser population. When these predators eat individuals from
the population, they decrease its numbers but may increase their own.

Disease and parasites. Disease is more likely to break out and result in
deaths when more individuals are living together in the same place.
Parasites are also more likely to spread under these conditions.
Emigration. Emigration occurs when, as a population approaches
its carrying capacity, and individual organisms leave and go to a
new area where they can find enough resources for survival and
reproduction. This will obviously cause a decrease in the amount
of organisms in a population.

Waste accumulation. High population densities can lead to the

accumulation of harmful waste products that kill individuals or
impair reproduction, reducing the population’s growth.
Environmental Issues and Problem:

The Philippines is considered as one of the biologically

richest country in the world because of its high
biodiversity at various levels. Our country has both
aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and also a high
degree of endemism, meaning high numbers of native
species of flora and fauna are found only in tropical
communities.
 We have all these rich natural biological resources but we have not truly
protected them. We are losing this global heritage due to habitat destruction,
overuse and pollution. As our forests are destroyed at a fast rate, the natural
habitats which are dwelling places of plant and animal species are also lost.
Our coral reefs, where the fishes lay eggs, are badly damaged by
destructive fishing methods such as muro-ami, dynamite and fine nets in
fishing. In addition, people hunt animals, collect plants, and sell corals and
exotic animals for livelihood, and other activities that cause the population of
these organisms to decrease at a faster rate. Hence, in view of these
harmful human activities, our country is also noted in the world as a hot spot
for conservation and protection of species.
The rate of development in some parts of the country is
extraordinary. The natural landscape has been changed
by tall buildings, establishments, housing projects,
expressways, railway systems and overpasses. Other
reclaimed areas have been converted into industrial
structures and techno parks.