GEC

6
S T S

Biodiversity and
Healthy Society

GEC 6 - Science, Technology, and Society

Chapter 2.3
Agenda
BIODIVERSITY contributes to many aspects of human well-being, for instance by providing raw
materials and contributing to health. Human actions, however, often lead to irreversible losses in
terms of diversity of life on Earth and these losses have been more rapid in the past 50 years than
ever before in human history. What factors are responsible for this rapid loss of biodiversity? What
would need to be done to significantly slow this trend?

Learning Outcomes
Determine the inter-relatedness of society, environment, and health;
Identify human-caused species loss as one of the major current threats to biodiversity; and
Define biodiversity hotspots and explain where most of the world’s biodiversity are located.
Review on Basic Concepts of Ecology Remembering

Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and the environment they live in,
which brings us to another important term that's used frequently in ecology: the environment,
which is the set of conditions that surround an organism. Environmental factors include
temperature, light, water, air, soil and nutrients that surround an organism.

Biotic Factors: all living organisms inhabiting the Earth.

Abiotic Factors: non-living parts of the environment (i.e. temperature, soil, light, moisture).

The way these components interact is critical in an ecosystem.

Ecological Levels of Organization

Organism
Any unicellular or multicellular form exhibiting all of
the characteristics of life, an individual.

Population
A group of organisms of one species living in the
same place at the same time that interbreed and
compete with each other for resources (ex. food,
mates, shelter).

Community
Several interacting populations that inhabit a
common environment and are interdependent.
Ecological Levels of Organization

Ecosystem
Populations in a community and the abiotic factors
with which they interact (ex. marine, terrestrial).

Biomes
Distinct biological communities characterized by
the dominant forms of life and the prevailing
climate
Biosphere
Life supporting portions of Earth composed of air,
land, fresh water, and salt water
Feeding Relationships
Producer
All autotrophs (plants), they obtain energy directly
from the environment and use an inorganic form of
carbon to build sugars.
Consumer
All heterotrophs: they ingest and obtain energy
from primary producers.
Herbivores — Eat plants (primary consumers, preys).
Omnivores — Eat both plants and meat.
Carnivores — Eat meat (Predators – Hunt prey
animals for food).
Scavengers — Feed on carrion, dead animals.
Detritivores — Such as earthworms and some insects
eat detritus (small bits of decaying organic matter).

Decomposer
Breakdown the complex compounds of dead and
decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules
that can be absorbed (fungi, bacteria). Food web of a terrestrial ecosystem.
Food Chains & Food Webs

It is a sequence of steps by
which some energy captured
by primary producers is
transferred to higher trophic
levels. An organism that
participates in one food chain
usually has a role in many
others as well. All of the food
chains of an ecosystem cross-
connect as a food web.
Trophic Levels
 BIODIVERSITY: What is it, Where is it,
and Why is it important?
Biodiversity is the measure of the number, variety and variability of living organisms. It
includes diversity within species, between species, and among ecosystems. The concept also
covers how this diversity changes from one location to another and over time. Indicators such as
the number of species in a given area can help in monitoring certain aspects of biodiversity.
Biodiversity is everywhere, both on land and in water. It includes all organisms, from microscopic
bacteria to more complex plants and animals. Current inventories of species, though useful,
remain incomplete and insufficient for providing an accurate picture of the extent and diversity of
living organisms. In spite of many tools and data sources, biodiversity remains difficult to
quantify precisely. But precise answers are seldom needed to devise an effective understanding
of where biodiversity is, how it is changing over space and time, the drivers responsible for such
change, the consequences of such change for ecosystem services and human well-being, and the
response options available.
Discussions on
Biodiversity
 Levels of
Biodiversity
Importance of Genetic Diversity

Biodiversity
The diversity of genes within a species. Genetic
variability is essential for maintaining a healthy
breeding population.

Species and ecosystems provide essential goods

Species Diversity
and services upon which human well-being
depends. They support our health, our environment The number of species of plants and animals that are
and our economies. present in a region.

Ecosystem Diversity
The amount of distinctive natural ecosystems
described for a particular geographical location.
 Ecosystem Ecosystem
Services Goods
includes: includes:
Water purification — plants, More than 7000 species of
animals and microorganisms in plants are cultivated or
wetlands act as sponges to filter harvested from the wild.
sediments and toxins from waters. Fish and other marine animals
Pollination — insects pollinate provide 20% of animal protein
crops worth $6-12 billion a year in consumed, at a value of $50-
the USA. 100 billion annually.
Disease control — natural Medicines — 118 of the top 150
enemies (predators and parasites) prescription drugs in America
of mosquitoes) control diseases contain chemicals derived from
such as malaria, Lyme disease, plants, fungi and other species.
hantavirus and cholera.
Importance of
Biodiversity
Other Importance of Importance of

Biodiversity
Biodiversity

Pest control: most crop pests can be controlled by other

Maintains soil quality: healthy bacteria, algae, fungi, mites,
organisms for a longer period of time — helpful because many
millipedes, and worms help cycle nutrients.
pests become resistant to synthetic pesticides.

Maintains air quality: plants purify the air and filter harmful Pollination and crop production: More than 1/3 of world’s
particles out of the air. crops rely on healthy pollinators.

Maintains water quality: variety of vegetation reduces

Medicines: many current and possible future medications are
erosion and purifies water by removing (using or absorbing)
found in areas with high biodiversity.
nutrients and pollution.
 Threats to Biodiversity Threats to
Biodiversity

Habitat Destruction/Fragmentation
Changing and displacing a habitat to suit human needs.
Invasive Species
Organisms that has been relocated and introduced to a region, these out-
compete native species resulting in disruption of the ecosystem and food chain.
Population Growth
Increasing population means greater demand for food, shelter, fuel and water; this
often leads to habitat loss, pollution, resource scarcity, and overconsumption.
Pollution
Pollution can alter the habitat to the point where some plants and animals cannot
adapt.
Global Climate Change
Many species are intolerant to changes in temperature — affects feeding
relationships and breeding patterns.
Overconsumption
Individuals consuming way more resources than needed to survive – sometimes
more than is needed to satisfy a high standard of life.
Key Terms in Biodiversity Be familiar!

Endangered species Species which faces threats that may cause it to become extinct within a short period.

Species whose population has declined to the point that it may be at risk of
Threatened species
extinction.

Endemic species Organisms exclusively native to a place or biota.

Biodiversity hotspots are regions that continue to experience an alarming rate of

Biodiversity hotspots
destruction of important natural resources that harbor biodiverse organisms.

The scientific study of how. humans impact organisms and of the development of
Conservation biology
ways to protect biological diversity.
 Saiga
African elephant Axolotl Giant panda Blue-throated macaw
Found in Kazakhstan, Mongolia,
Found in Gansu, Shaanxi, and Russian Federation, Turkmenistan,
Found in Sub-Saharan Africa Found in MexicoIUCN Red List Sichuan provinces (China)IUCN Found in BoliviaIUCN Red List UzbekistanIUCN Red List status:
IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable status: Critically Endangered Red List status: Vulnerable status: Critically Endangered Critically Endangered
THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE
ENDANGERED SPECIES

Reticulated giraffe Ring-tailed lemur Polar bear Chimpanzee Western lowland gorilla
Found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Found in MadagascarIUCN Red Found in Canada, Greenland, Found in Forested West, Central Found in Angola, Cameroon, Central
SomaliaIUCN Red List status: List status: Endangered Norway, Russian Federation, and East AfricaIUCN Red List African Republic, Congo, Equatorial
Vulnerable United StatesIUCN Red List status: Endangered Guinea, GabonIUCN Red List status:
status: Vulnerable Critically Endangered
 ENDANGERED SPECIES
IN THE PHILIPPINES
AND IN ASIA
Philippine Tamaraw Philippine Tarsier

Yunnan snub-nosed monkey

Found in Yunnan (China) and Tibet
(southwest China)IUCN Red
Philippine Eagle List status: Endangered
Found in the Philippine islands of Leyte,
Philippine Mouse Dear Luzon, Mindanao, and SamarIUCN Red List
status: Critically Endangered

Philippine Forest Turtle

Bengal tiger
Found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, Thailand; possibly also Laos, North
Korea, VietnamIUCN Red List status: Endangered
 Philippine Biodiversity
The Philippines belongs among the countries that are gifted with
rich biological diversity, classified as a megadiverse country. Its
archipelagic composition, geographic location (i.e. its proximity to
the equator), and tropical climate enable various forms of life and
entire ecosystems to flourish across its 7,000-plus islands and
hundreds of reefs, further enriching the locales’ natural beauty.
Because of this, the country is recognized as one of the most
biologically and ecologically diverse in the world – and one with
the highest concentration of species per square kilometer. The
Philippines, in fact, ranks second only to Madagascar in terms of
having the highest number of endemic species per unit area of
habitat.
Forest Decline in the Philippines Forest Loss in the
20th Century
Forest Decline in the Philippines Forest Loss in the
20th Century
 DENR Administrative
Order (DAO)
No. 2004-15 establishes the national list of threatened faunal
species that includes 34 species of mammals, 80 species of birds,
18 species of reptiles and 14 species of amphibians (Table 1).
Among the critically endangered are the Tamaraw (Bubalus
mindorensis) which is endemic to Mindoro and the Philippine
Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). This list, however, includes some
non-forest dependent species of birds, a marine mammal (Dugong
dugon) and 4 species of marine turtles.
 DAO No.
2004-15

List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and their Categories (DAO No. 2004-15)
Categories
Other Species
Faunal Species Critically Endangered* Endangered** Vulnerable Total
Threatened
Mammals 17 5 17 5 34
Birds 13 13 54 — 80
Reptiles 4 6 4 4 18
Amphibians — 4 10 — 14
Total 34 28 84 9 148
*Includes all species listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (CITES)
** Includes all species listed under Appendix II of CITES
What is it about the Philippines that enables it to
support 70-80% of the entire world’s species?
Here are the geographic and ecological characteristics of the country that allow it to support such a
varied and well-distributed diversity of species of wild fauna and flora.

The Philippines is The Philippines has a The isolation created Elevation has an
found in the tropics, highly heterogeneous by separate islands, as influence on
where the climate and complex well as peaks of biodiversity. In the
supports a high level topography. Philippine mountain ranges Philippines’s rugged
of organic ecological locations vary support genes-level topography, one
productivity to from mountain ranges to and species-level may find a generous
provide the coral reefs, providing diversity. offering of biological
resources needed by multitudes of plant and diversity, especially in
interdependent animal species more the highlands.
organisms to survive. than adequate space to
occupy.
Threats:
Forest/ Habitat Fragmentation
Deforestation and Kaingin System

Anthropogenic
Activities/Pressure
As of 2021, PH has a population of 111 million

Introduction of Invasive Species

Invasive species dramatically alter ecosystem.
Invasive Alien Species in Threats to

the Philippines
Biodiversity

A. Higher Plants B. Insect Pests

1. Broussonetia papyrifera — Paper mulberry Ozola minor — Measuring worm
2. Lantana camara — Coronitas Heteropsylla cubana — Jumping lice
3. Swietenia macrophylla — Mahogany Hypsila robusta — Shoot borer
4. Leucaena leucocephala — Ipil-ipil
5. Mikania micrantha — Mile-a-minute C. Pathogens
6. Acacia mangium — Mangium Corticum salmonicolor — Pink disease/canker
7. Acacia auriculiformis — Auri Uromycladium tepperianum — Gall rust
8. Chromolaena odorata — Siam Weed Phellinus noxicus — Root rot
9. Coccinia grandis — Ivy gourd
10. Eichornia crassipes* — Water hyacinth Sources: Asia-Pacific Invasive Species Network; *PAWB
 Earth’s Biodiversity
Hotspots
The areas that support natural ecosystems that are largely intact and where native
species and communities associated with these ecosystems are well represented are
called biodiversity hotspots. The concept was given in 1988 by Norman Myers of
Oxford University. To qualify as biodiversity hotspot, according to Myers, 2000
edition of hotspots, a region must meet two strict criteria: First, it must have at least
1.500 species of vascular plants as endemic (endemism). Secondly, it must contain
30% or less of its original natural vegetation (loss of biodiversity). There are areas
with a high diversity of locally endemic species not found or found outside the
hotspots. It is marked by human serious threat to biodiversity. In other words, these
are areas that cover both extraordinary biologically rich endemic plants and animals
and are highly threatened by human actions. Forest habitat is an example of
Biodiversity hotspot as they persistently face devastation and degradation due to
illegal logging. pollution, and deforestation.
 World's Most
Threatened
Biodiversity
Hotspots
As identified by Conservation International, approximately there are 35 areas around
the world that qualify as hotspots. They represent just 2% of Earth’s land surface that
support nearly 60% of the world's plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species
which majority of these are endemics. Hrdina and Romportl (2017) point out the most
important hotspots are Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands and Sundaland.

The Philippines is one of the most mega-diverse countries in the world when it comes
to variety of genetic, species, and ecological biodiversity. Due to continued
experience of destruction to these resources made by human activities (deforestation,
land degradation, and pollution) the country is also considered a biodiversity hotspot.
The hotspot is a habitat for 6,000 endemic species and a large indefinite number of
bird species including the Philippine eagle and the Cebu flowerpecker.
Importance of Biodiversity
to Human Health
Health is our most basic human right. For most people, it does not just mean freedom from illness,
but a state of overall social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural welfare. Being well, and having
the capacity to look after our health and that of our family or community, depends in range of factors,
including our economic status and ultimately on our environment. Health is therefore one of the most
important indicators of sustainable development.

Biodiversity is the foundation for human health by securing the life-sustaining goods and services
which biodiversity provides to us, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity can provide
significant benefits to our health. In contrast, the continuing loss of biodiversity on a global scale
represents a direct threat to our health and well-being. Without a global environment that is healthy
and capable of supporting a diversity of life, no human population can exist.
Importance of Biodiversity
to Human Health
The reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change have highlighted how human well-being is affected by the state of the global environment
and the sustainability of ecosystems. However, the enormous range of benefits which biodiversity
provides to our health and well-being is largely underappreciated and unrecognized within the health
community, and fails to inform critical decisions on global and regional health strategies. At the same
time, the wider social and public health importance of biodiversity is not always understood by those
concerned with biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity supports food security, dietary health, and
livelihood sustainability.
Biodiversity supports food
security, dietary health, and
livelihood sustainability

Genetic diversity in food systems

provides the foundation of crop
development and food security, and
promotes resistance and resilience to
environmental stresses including
posts and diseases of crops and
livestock.

Diets based on a diversity of food

species promote health, and can
help to protect against disease by
addressing the problem of
micronutrient and vitamin
deficiencies. Loss of agricultural
biodiversity can therefore threaten
health, livelihood sustainability, and
our future security of food and
nutrition.
Biodiversity provides
important resources for
medical research

Studies of wildlife anatomy,

physiology, and biochemistry can
lead to important developments in
human medicine. Examples of
species of interest to medical science
include bears (for insights into
osteoporosis, cardio-vascular
disorders, renal disease and
diabetes), sharks (osmoregulation
and immunology), cetaceans
(respiration and treatments for divers
suffering from decompression
sickness) and horse-shoe crabs
(optometry / ophthalmology and
molecular cell biology).
Biodiversity provides
important resources for
traditional and modern
medicine
Biodiversity loss can impact on community
traditions and livelihoods centered on
traditional medicinal practices that utilize
wild animals and plants, particularly for
indigenous and local communities. Millions
of people depend upon traditional
medicines for their primary health care.

Modern drugs derived from wild species

include inter alia pain killers (e.g.
Zinconitide from cone snail toxin), cardiac
drugs (eg. Lanoxin from Digitalis plants),
anti-cancer drugs (e.g. Taxol from Taxus
trees and Hycamtin from Camptotheca
trees) and treatments for diabetes
(including Exanitide from Heloderma
lizards). Many other potentially important
species are yet to be investigated or
discovered.
Biodiversity piays a role in
the regulation and control of
infectious diseases
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem change
can increase the risk of emergence or
spread of infectious diseases in animals,
plants and humans, including
economically important livestock
diseases, zoonotic outbreaks, and global
pandemics. In recent years outbreaks of
SARS, Ebola, Marburg, Hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome, avian influenza
and malaria have been attributed to
human impacts on biodiversity, the
wildlife trade or unsustainable land use
change, including the recent pandemic
COVID-19. Without a greater
understanding of disease ecology, there
is also a risk that programmes to tackle
infectious diseases may impact
negatively on biodiversity, through use of
biocides and other chemicals and wildlife
culling.
Biodiversity has social, cultural and spiritual Conservation of biodiversity is essential for
importance within communities climate change adaptation

Ecosystem change can result in disconnection of Climate change will have a range of significant impacts on
populations from open spaces or the wider countryside, human health, many of which are directly associated with
with negative implications for physical and mental well- climate impacts on ecosystems. For example, changes in
being and loss of "sense of place". This has been linked to the ecology of pathogens, or in the populations or
an increased prevalence of 'diseases of affluence' distribution of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, could
(diabetes, obesity, cardio-pulmonary illness) and lead to changes in disease patterns and increase the risk
psychological disorders in many communities. of outbreaks. Loss of ecosystem services also places
Conversely, access to 'greenspace' (natural and artificial) communities at greater risk from other climate impacts,
are associated with better health outcomes, shorter such as extreme weather events, drought and crop
hospital visits and reduced convalescence time for failure.
patients than purely urban environments. An awareness
of environmental values and respect for other species has
been associated with reduced propensity towards anti-
social behavior in children and young adults.
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