Science, Technology, and Society 22

2nd Semester
23

BIODIVERSITY AND HEALTHY SOCIETY

- It refers to the differences in the genetic make-up of
OUTLINE a distinct species and to the genetic variations
I. Biodiversity within a single species.
II. Three Types of Biodiversity - It concerns DNA sequences
A. Genetic Diversity
B. Species Diversity SPECIES DIVERSITY
C. Ecological Diversity - refers to a variety of species or diversity between
III. Biodiversity and Environment species.
IV. Status of Philippine Biodiversity - Species is a group of organisms or individuals with
V. Importance of Biodiversity the same gene pool or genetic characteristics and
VI. Biodiversity Hotspots capable of interbreeding with one another.
VII. Factors that caused Philippine Biodiversity Loss - The patterns of species diversity in an area or at
A. Underlying Causes of the Loss of Philippine one time are due to three factors: history, chance,
Biodiversity and necessity.
VIII. Genetically Modified Organisms - History is the correlation through time as a function
A. The Impact of GMO to Biodiversity and of reproduction.
Environment o For instance, if a species was abundant in
the near past, chances are that it will be
BIODIVERSITY abundant today.
- Biological diversity, or biodiversity refers to the - Chance is the random process of birth, death,
variety of life on earth. and migration.
- The biodiversity we see today is the outcome of - Necessity is the laws of growth and interaction,
over 3.5 billion years of evolutionary history, that is, different species flourish in different
shaped by natural processes and increasingly, conditions
by the influence of humans. - It refers to the variety of species within a habitat or
- Biodiversity forms the web of life of which we a region.
are an integral part and upon which we fully
depend. ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
- Biodiversity also pertains to the relative abundance - refers to a variety of species among ecosystems in
and richness of the different traits, species, and a given area or variety of habitat, communities
ecosystems in a particular area or region. and ecological processes in a given area or
- The United Nations Convention on Biological variety of habitat, communities and ecological
Diversity (Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in processes, such as forests, rivers, lakes,
1992) defines biodiversity as the variability among marine, wetland, or terrestrial ecosystems.
living organisms from all source, including aerial, - Ecosystem is the unit of interaction between the
terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems, biotic community and its physical environment in a
and the ecological complexes of which they are given area.
part: this includes diversity within species, between - It deals with the variations in ecosystems within a
species and of ecosystems. geographical location and its overall impact on
- Zamora (1997) defined Biodiversity as the human existence and the environment
ensemble (all of its parts taken together) and the
interactions (mutual actions) of the genetic, the BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
species, and the ecological diversity in a given Biodiversity is often used to draw attention to issues related
place and at a given time. to the environment. It can be closely related to:
- World Wild Fund for Nature (1989) defined it as The Health of Ecosystems
the wealth of life on earth, the millions of - For example, the loss of just one species can
plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes have different effects ranging from the
they contain, and the intricate ecosystems they disappearance of the species to complete collapse
help build into the living environment. of the ecosystem itself. This is because every
species having a certain role within an ecosystem
THREE TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY and being interlinked with other species.
The Health of Mankind
GENETIC DIVERSITY - Experiencing nature is of great importance to
- refers to a variety of expressed traits or genes humans and teaches us different values. It is good
within the species. to take a walk in the forest, to smell flowers
- It also refers to the degree of variability of the and breathe fresh air. More specifically, natural
genetic material of an organism. food and medicine can be linked to biodiversity.
- A gene is a unit of hereditary information consisting
of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA. STATUS OF PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY
- High genetic diversity indicates populations that - The Department of Environment and Natural
can more easily adapt to changing situations Resources (DENR 2009) claims that in terms of
and environments, and also greater assortment biodiversity, the Philippine was:
of materials than can be found, increasing the o 5th in the world as to number of plant
chances of finding a useful compound species
o 8th in the world list of endemic plants
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o 4th in endemic birds

 o 5th in endemic mammals - The list of endangered species is long and
o 8th in endemic reptiles growing.
- Identified endemic species of the country: - In the 2000 Red List of the International Union for
o Rafflesia manillana: the world’s largest the Conservation of Nature and Natural resources
flower (IUCN), of the 52,177 species in the Philippines,
o Vanda sanderiana (waling-waling): one - 418 were listed as threatened.
of the world’s largest orchid species - The Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority-
o Pithecophaga jefferyi (monkey -eating setting Program (PBCPP) described the 121
eagle): the largest bird endemic mammals as critically endangered.
o Rhincodon typus: the largest fisH - The Bird Life International listed 116 of species
o Tridacna gigas (giant clam): the largest of birds in the country are threatened or near
seashell threatened.
o Pandaka pygmea (dwarf goby): the - According to the Department of Environment and
smallest freshwater fish Natural Resources report (2010), out of 584 wildlife
o Tarsius syrichta (tarsier): the smallest in the country, 72% are already threatened with
primate extinction.
o Tragalus nigricans: the smallest hoofed - Several species of plants, frogs, reptiles and
mammal insects remain to be documented.
o Tylonycteris pachpus (bamboo bat): the - Unfortunately, several species were believed to
smallest bat have vanished without being identified.
o Pisidum: the tiniest shell in the world - Other indications that species is threatened is
o Connus gloriamaris: one of the most the disappearance of its habitat and the
expensive shells in the world disappearance of another species on which the
o Cervus alfredi: the most endangered niche depends.
deer
- In the last 500 years, the Philippines saw the
o Bubalus mindorensis (tamaraw or dwarf
destruction of over 93 percent of its original forest
water buffalo): one of the top ten most
cover.
endangered species in the world and the
- The country was Asia’s most beautiful provider of
largest endangered animal.
rainforest timber during the 20th century.
- Out of 52,177 identified species in the Philippines,
more than half can be found only in this part of the - Department of Environment and Natural Resources
world (DENR) data show that the country’s total forest
o Of 9,253 plant species, 6,091 are size dwindled to 6.7 million hectares in 1990 from
endemic 30 million hectares in 1930.
o of 1,137 terrestrial species, 558 are - At the same time, the forest-to-man ratio shrank to
endemic 0.1 hectare per Filipino in 1990 from 1.13 hectares
o of more than 150 species of palms and per Filipino in 1930.
dipterocarps, two-thirds are endemic - During the last 20 years, the forest cover has been
o of about 8,000 flowering plants in the destroyed at the rate of 2.5 percent annually or
world, 3,500 are endemic in the country about three times the world average rate of
o of 1,000 species of orchids, 70 percent are forest devastation.
endemic - A study by the Philippine Congress said that
o of 165 species of mammals, 121 are 123,000 hectares of the country’s forest cover are
endemic lost every year.
o of 332 species of reptiles and amphibians, - The added that by 2036, there would be no
215 are endemic forest left in the country, unless reforestation is
o of 895 species of butterflies, 352 are - started.
endemic - In January 2003, a study by the Green Tropics
o of nearly 21,000 recorded insect species, International (GTI) claimed that the Philippines
70 percent are endemic would need P30 trillion to forest country’s denuded
o of more than 130 species of tiger beetle, mountains in over 85 years.
over 110 are endemic. - The Inventory of the Coral Resources of the
- The country is also home to some of the world’s Philippines (ICRP) found only about 5 percent of
most exotic birds, the country’s estimated 26,000 square kilometers of
o of 577 species, 185 of these are coral reefs were in excellent condition, with over 75
endemic
percent coral cover.
o Of the 915 reef fish species and more
than 400 scleractinian coral species
IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
identified, 12 of which are endemic
1. Ecological Importance
- There are 3,000 species trees in the country
- Biodiversity is the key working parts of the
o 77 species of which are mangroves.
natural ecosystems.
- It is said that less than 14 of the 114 species of
- Biodiversity is responsible for maintenance of
snakes in the country are poisonous.
the gaseous composition of the atmosphere,
- The Philippines, being part of the Coral Triangle
regulation of the global climate, generation and
in the Pacific Ocean has more than 500 of the
maintenance of soils, recycling of nutrients and
world’s 700 coral species.
waste products, and biological control of pest
- There are 2,500 species of fish present in the
species.
country’s marine waters.
- Plants, specifically, serve as the primary
- There are also 1,062 species of seaweeds and 16
producers that provide the energy that issued and
species of sea grasses.
channeled to different components of the
- One indication that a species may be
ecosystem.
endangered is a dwindling in numbers.
- The interactions among and between the
elements of the ecosystem determine the
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productivity, stability, and sustainability ecosystem

 including functions such as reproduction and 4. Climate Change
regeneration, nutrient and water cycling, biotic - Destruction of forest and vegetation affects
stability and others. hydrologic cycle and increase concentration of
- Biodiversity also promotes biomass and genetic greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
input for new species - Drastic changes in the atmosphere can have
2. Economic Importance catastrophic effects.
- Biodiversity provides the basic materials needed 5. Introduced Species (Invasive Species)
by man to exist, such as food, clothing, and - Introduced species can change the entire habitat
shelter. placing the ecosystem at risk.
- They provide raw materials for new and - They can crowdout or replace native species that
traditional medicines, thus improving human are beneficial to a given habitat.
health. - They can damage human enterprise, and can cost
- They support livelihoods and provide income, i.e., economy of the area.
tourism, education, technology, and research. - In fact, introduced species are greater threat to
3. Aesthetic Importance native biodiversity than pollution, harvest, and
- Biodiversity provides a sense of satisfaction and disease combined
pride in knowing that there are rare flora and fauna 6. Encroachment of Habitat
that exist in the area. - Economic activities such as mining, forestry, fishing,
- They also provide opportunities for recreational and industry disturb the balance of the ecosystem.
activities, such as bird watching, scuba diving,
snorkeling, and nature photography UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THE LOSS OF PHILIPPINE
4. Cultural and Spiritual Importance BIODIVERSITY
- Biodiversity has an intrinsic value that it is worth The underlying causes of Philippine biodiversity loss are:
protecting for human survival and heritage, which is o Population growth and increasing resource
the concept of stewardship as firmly ensconced in consumption
the Judeo-Christian doctrine. o Ignorance about species and ecosystems
- The extension of rights to species and landforms is o Poorly conceived policies and poor law enforcement
a necessary extension of the cultural evolution o Effects of global trading systems
Homo sapiens. o Inequity of resource distribution
o Apathy or failure to account for the value of
- McNeil and Shei (2000) noted that biodiversity is
biodiversity
the life insurance of life itself
o Interaction of underlying causes
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
- It is a biogeographic region that is both a significant - While selective breeding has existed for
reservoir of biodiversity and is threatened with thousands of years, modern biotechnology is
destruction more efficient, and effective because seed
Areas of Critical Biodiversity developers are able to directly modify the genome
- Hotspots: most threatened areas of high biodiversity of the crop.
- Roughly 25 worldwide - This process is called “Genetic Modified Organism
- Madagascar (GMO). It is also known as “genetic engineering”,
- Parts of California where in selective bred of plants were being
- Caribbean enhanced with the genes if another plant.
- Genetic Modified crops can help farming a lot. It can
FACTORS THAT CAUSED PHILIPPINE BIODIVERSITY produce higher number of yields than usual.
LOSS - By this, GMO can strengthen farming especially
1. Habitat Alteration or Destruction
against the unpredictable factors of nature.
- Massive deforestation and conversion of forestlands
- But controversy remains on how to get an access to
to other uses.
this biotechnology and regarding to the safety of
- In mangrove ecosystem, the development of
genetic modified foods.
fishponds (aquaculture).
THE IMPACT OF GMO TO BIODIVERSITY AND
- In coral reefs, coastal development, aquaculture,
ENVIRONMENT
agriculture, and land-cover change increasing
The basic goal of biotechnology is to provide the means to
sediments and nutrients outflow onto reefs, and the
feed the world’s hungry. Moreover, the benefit of GMO in the
muro-ami fishing technique.
increase of the crop yield is well established. But recent
2. Over-harvesting
researches and studies have also revealed the adverse
- Commercial logging, community logging, timber
effect of GMO to health, environment and most
poaching, and kaingin (slash and burn agriculture).
importantly in biodiversity. Long term studies about the
- In mangrove ecosystem, the extraction of fuel and
potential risks of GMO must be first evaluated and dealt
construction materials.
with. Alarming results have been produced in several
- Exploitation of particular plant species and animal
recent studies indicating the toxicity and harm to health and
groups for commercial purposes.
ecology.
- In marine ecosystem, the pa-aling fishing technique.
- An insect resistant GM crop could have direct toxic
3. Environmental Pollution
effect on non-target species.
- In the case of coral reefs, the destructive fishing
- A GM crop could have an indirect effect to other
practices, the use of dynamite cyanide in fishing.
species by reducing the source of food for other
- Domestic agriculture and industrial wastes are
wildlife such as birds.
poorly treated and are often discharged into the
- Pest resurgence could be resulted from insects
sea, and to other bodies of water, such as rivers
which become resistant to chemicals
and lakes.
- when used on pest tolerant GM crops repeatedly
- Pollution can lead to diseases and pollution
and may increase the number of insect pest.
stresses, such as coral bleaching on reefs.
- Creating an imbalance in nature by changing the
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predator/prey ratio.