GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society

Student Activity Sheet

Lesson #16

Lesson title: Biodiversity and the Healthy Society Materials:

Student Activity Sheet, Course
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to: Syllabus
1. Explain the role of biological diversity to the development of the
society and global environment. References:
Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018).
2. Determine the interrelatedness of society, environment and health. Science, Technology and Society. 1st
Ed. Philippines: Rex Book Store
3.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Welcome students! We will tackle our new topic for today about the importance of Biodiversity and its
effect to the biosphere. Try to reflect how are we going to contribute in the preservation/conservation of the
different organisms that exist in the community to balance the ecosystem. Goodluck!

B.MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)

BIODIVERSITY
 the richness and variety of life – of genes, species and ecosystem.
 maintains the health of the earth and its people.
 provides us with food & medicine and contributes to our economy.
 the greater the variety of species, the healthier the biosphere.
 is not evenly distributed, it varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions; among other factors, the
diversity of all living things depends on temperature, precipitation, altitude, soils, geography and the
presence of other species.

Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the relationship
of living (biotic) and the nonliving (abiotic)organisms. Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the
ecosystem. BIODIVERSITY plays a major role in this natural dynamics. For example, a large number of golden
snails in a certain area of a rice field can help predict a low production of rice harvest, since eggs of the golden
snails are considered pest for rice plant. On a positive view, the larger number of different species in a certain
area can be a predictor of sustainable life in that area. Sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better survival
rate against any natural disaster. Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, MUST PRESERVE and
CONSERVE THE BIODIVERSITY of all creatures.

CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY
Alteration in any system could bring varied effects. A change in biodiversity could have erratic effects not
only in wildlife or marine life but also in human beings. For example, humans inhabiting the forest would
disturb the natural order of life. Trees and plants would be affected in the land–clearing operations where the
houses would be built. The animals, insects, and all types of life forms in the cleared area would be either be
displaced or most likely be killed. The loss of these life forms could affect the entire ecosystem governing that
environment. The food chain might be damaged. From this, we can clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not

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 GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #16

well taken care of, biodiversity encounters changes that may impact human health on such different levels.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
There are major threats to biodiversity that were identified by the United Nations’ Environment Programme
(WHO, n.d.). These are the following:
1. Habitat loss and destruction. Major contributing factor is the inhabitation of human beings and the use of
land for economic gains.
2. Alterations in ecosystem composition. Alterations and sudden changes, either within species groups or
within the environment, could begin to change entire ecosystems. Alterations in ecosystems are a
critical factor contributing to species and habitat loss.
3. Over-exploitation. Over-hunting, overfishing, or over-collecting of species can quickly lead to its decline.
Changing consumption patterns of humans is often cited as the key reason for this unsustainable
exploitation of natural resources.
4. Pollution and contamination. Biological systems respond slowly to changes in their surrounding
environment. Pollution and contamination cause irreversible damage to species and varieties.
5. Global climate change. Both climate variability and climate change cause biodiversity loss. Species and
populations may be lost permanently if they are not provided with enough time to adapt to
changing climatic conditions.

Concept Graphic Organizer

Habiitat loss and destruction

Over-exploitation Alterations in
ecosystem composition

Pollution and
Global climate
contamination
change

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 GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #16

2) Activity 2: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)
A. Formative Assessment (9 mins)
Directions: Write true if you think that the statement is correct; otherwise, false.
_______1. Biodiversity refers only to species other than humans.
_______2. Nobody knows the total number of species on earth, a very substantial percentage remains
unidentified.
_______3. Pollution can be a threat to biodiversity.
_______4. Plants are more diverse than animals.
_______5. Extinction of species can greatly affect biodiversity.

3) Activity 3: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

Directions: Examine carefully the food web below, then answer as directed.

1. From the food web, draw a food chain that includes four of the organisms from the given food web
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________
2. Look closely at the given food web. Describe what might happen if there was a sudden decrease in the population of
mice?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________

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 GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #16

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
1) Activity 4: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)
Two things I’ve learned today:

1. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two things I would like to learn more/further about this topic:

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One question I would like to ask regarding this topic:

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FAQs

1.Why is biodiversity important to human society?

Ans. Importance of biodiversity. Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. ... Ecological life support—
biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control,
wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of biodiversity?

Ans. By having more biodiversity the environment can be conserved and saved from disturbance of ecosystem.
More plants means the better environment and lesser effect of green house gases or temperature rising.
The biodiversity helps to maintain the food web circle, disturbing can result in the scarcity of food.

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KEY TO CORRECTIONS

Activity 3B. : 1-False; 2-True; 3-True; 4-False; 5-True

Activity 4.: Possible answer for #2 - Rabbits, squirrels and seed-eating birds might be in danger or may also decrease.
Foxes, hawks, owls and snakes may lack food supply.

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 GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #16

TEACHER-LED ACTIVITIES
{These are standard instructions for teachers.}
A. If this session happens to be a face-to-face, in-classroom learning session:
1) Collect completed work in the SAS.
2) Allocate your contact time with students to individual or small group mentoring, monitoring, and student
consultations.
3) You may administer summative assessments (quizzes, demonstrations, graded recitation, presentations,
performance tasks) during face-to-face sessions.
4) You may also explore supplementary activities that foster collaboration, provided that social distancing is
observed.
5) You may provide supplementary content via videos, etc.

It is important to remember that students who cannot make it to face-to-face, in-classroom sessions for health and
safety reasons, should not be given lower grades for missing in-class activities and should be given alternative
summative tests.

B. If this session happens to be an at-home learning session for the students:

1) Check and grade collected SAS and other input from students.
2) Schedule phone calls/virtual calls/virtual chats to individual students or small groups of students to monitor
work, provide guidance, answer questions, and check understanding.

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