Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
National Capital Region

DIVISION OF CITY SCHOOLS –

MANILA
Manila Education Center Arroceros Forest Park
Antonio J. Villegas St. Ermita, Manila

BIODIVERSITY
GRADE 10 - WEEK 7 – SLeM 7

Most Essential Learning Competencies:

Lesson 1 - Explain how species diversity increases the probability of adaptation
and survival of organisms in changing environments.
Lesson 2 - Explain the relationship between population growth and carrying
capacity.
HOW TO USE THIS MODULE
Before you start answering the module, I want you to set aside other tasks that
will disturb you while enjoying the lessons. Read the simple instructions below to
successfully enjoy the objectives of this kit. Have fun!
1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of this
module.
2. Write on your notebook or any writing pad the concepts about the lessons.
Writing enhances learning, that is important to develop and keep in mind.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers.
5. Analyze conceptually the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

PP Parts of the Module

• Expectations - These are what you will be able to know after completing the
lessons in the module.
• Pre-test - This will measure your prior knowledge and the concepts to be
mastered throughout the lesson.
• Looking Back - This section will measure what learnings and skills that you
understand from the previous lesson.
• Brief Introduction- This section will give you an overview of the lesson.
• Activities - These are activities designed to develop critical thinking and other
competencies. This can be done with or without a partner depending on the
nature of the activity.
• Remember - This section summarizes the concepts and applications of the
lessons.
• Checking your Understanding - It will verify how you learned from the lesson.
• Post-test - This will measure how much you have learned from the entire
module.
 LESSON 1: BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM

EXPECTATIONS
You will explain how species diversity increases the probability of
adaptation and survival of organisms in changing environments. Specifically, this
module will help you to:
• describe biodiversity.
• explain how biodiversity affects stability in an ecosystem.
• suggest ways on conservation of biodiversity.

PRE TEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. What describes how varied living things are in a specific area?
A. stability B. biodiversity C. equilibrium D. carrying capacity

2. Which of the following ecosystem is the most biodiverse?

A. a desert B. a stream C. a ricefield D. tropical rain forest

3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between biodiversity and
stability of ecosystem?
A. Increased biodiversity increases the stability of an ecosystem.
B. As biodiversity increases, stability of the ecosystem decreases.
C. A less diverse ecosystem keeps more resources in the ecosytem.
D. An ecosystem with low biodiversity is better able to recover from natural
disasters.

4. Some species go extinct at an alarming rate. Why might this be a concerning issue?
A. It can affect the water cycle.
B. It is not to be concerned about.
C. There would be more food for other species.
D. Species are interdependent, others would be affected.

5. How should biodiversity be protected in rain forests?

A. Deforestation should be strictly prohibited.
B. Environmental laws should be followed strictly.
C. Public awareness should be created regarding biodiversity conservation and its
importance.
D. All of the above.
LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON
Activity: Diversity Hunt
We encounter organisms of all kinds in our daily lives, from the smallest insects
to gigantic trees. All these living things make up the Earth’s biodiversity department.
They serve different functions, such as food, medicine and energy source and shelter
for protection. They also maintain the balance of the ecosystem. Try to look out of your
window and spot organisms that will suffice the function in the chart below. How many
can you find? Write your answers inside the box. You may add more in the remaining
boxes provided.

1. Source of food 2. Provides oxygen 3. Controls pest

4. Helps plants to 5. Provides medicine 6. Provides shelter

reproduce

7. Aids in beautification 8. Gives protection 9. Source for clothing

of surroundings

10. Others 11. 12.

INTRODUCTION
Ecosystem is composed of all living and non living organisms interacting with
each other. Relationship is important in an ecosystem, this maintains the balance and
stability of a community. To uphold the balance of an ecosystem, the members of
species of its biodiversity must have a healthy relationship among other organisms as
well as the environment. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living species on Earth
which includes the smallest bacteria to the largest land animal which is the elephant.
All of the Earth’s species work together to maintain their ecosystem. For example, a
flower will produce nectar for the bees, the bees will carry pollen so that flowers may
reproduce, while the honey which was manufactured by the bees are food for the
humans who grows the flower. This explains the interconnection between all of the
Earth’s biodiversity.
The ecosystem is in constant state of change, organisms are born and die. This
changes keep the balance of the community. Several factors however can disturb the
balance of an ecosystem which will result to instability. These factors include
pandemic, natural disasters, human-made damages, and competition for food and
other basic necessities. These occurences will result to biodiversity instability. To be
able to cope with ever-changing state of ecosystem, species learn to work together for
their survival. In this situation, the more variety of species an ecosystem have, the
higher the chance of survival. These variety of species is called biodiversity stability.
You will learn about it on the next activity.
ACTIVITY
Activity: Diverse and Stable Ecosystem
Objective:
Describe and compare the stability of ecosystems.
Procedure:
Below are pictures showing two different kind of ecosystems. Picture A shows
the Tubbataha Reef located in the middle of Sulu Sea. Picture B shows a cattle farm.
Both of the ecosystems are suffering from global warming which causes the
temperature to increase in an alarming rate. The heat causes the seaweeds in shallow
area of Tubbataha Reef to die while making the grass in the cattle farm to dry up.

A. Tubbataha Reef B. Cattle Farm

Phia, Q. Tubbataha- Wall Street- Table Coral Life. 13 Mar. Poczesniok, Matthia. Cattle Farm. 24 Apr. 2020.
2014. www.flickr.com/photos/q- https://pixabay.com/photos/cattle-cattle-farm-cattle-
phia/13117957335/in/album-72157642278660364/. austria-5090089/.

Guide Questions:
1. Name the organisms that you can see from the:
A. Tubbataha Reef:
B. Cattle Farm:
2. Which of the two ecosystem has more variety of organisms?
3. In Tubbataha reef, what do you think will happen if the seaweeds die due to global
warming?
4. Now, look at the cattle farm. Describe what will happen if the grass dries up due to
the heat of the sunlight?
5. Which of the two ecosystem has more stable biodiversity? Why
6. In which ecosystem were the species able to adapt to the changes in their
environment?
7. How is biodiversity related to stability?

Stability of an ecosystem can be described as the ability to withstand or adjust

to changes that may occur in the environment. These changes may be a result of
natural or human activities. As an effect, biodiversity may be reduced and result to
instability of the ecosystem.
 The loss of biodiversity has been mainly attributed to human activities such as
deforestation, overfishing, industrialization and abuse of resources. Humans should
take responsibility in maintaining a healthy and stable ecosystem. A stable ecosystem
must contain a high degree of biodiversity.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Trawling is the process of dragging a gigantic
rake across the bottom of the ocean floor to
scoop up organisms. This is a very good way to
catch fish but has the unfortunate side effect of
destroying nearly all the coral in the trawler’s
path. Many organisms live in coral reefs, such as
plankton and algae, hundreds of species of fish,
sea urchins, and eels. All of these organisms
depend on the coral to survive: they live inside of
it, use it for shelter, or eat it.
NOAA. “Drawing of Trawling.” 26 Aug. 2005.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trawling_Drawing.jpg.

Answer these:
1. How does trawling affect coral reef biodiversity?
2. Would the coral reef be more or less stable after trawling?
3. Explain why, and be SPECIFIC.
*Hint: describe what happens to all the organisms in the coral reef ecosystem, and
use the word “biodiversity.”

POST TEST
Direction: Analyze each item carefully. Choose the letter of the correct
answer.
1. Which of the following statements about biodiversity is TRUE?
A. A more diverse ecosystem has less species.
B. A more diverse ecosystem has more pollution in it.
C. A more diverse ecosystem gives less chance to sustain itself.
D. A more diverse ecosystem has a better chance to sustain itself.

2. If your were a botanist and discovered a new plant, how would you react and why?
What would be its effect on the ecosystem?
A. I would be sad for other species to become extinct.
B. I would be worried about plants competing for limited resources.
C. I would be upset because biodiversity leads to ecosystem instability.
D. I would be happy to find biodiversity because that leads to ecosystem stability.
3. Which of the following supports ecological balance?
A. An ecosystem that never changes
B. An ecosystem where species are independent of one another
C. An ecosystem that is in a state of chaos where species do not coexist in
harmony.
D. An ecosystem in a state of stability where species are interdependent.

4. Which ecosystem is more stable; thus, organisms would be more likely to survive if
a disease killed the grasses?

A B
Learn Food Web in 2 minutes. “SC.912.L.17.9 Food Webs and Energy
https://www.toppr.com/content/story/am Transfer.” n.d. Ecsd-Fl.Schoolloop.Com.
p/food-web-54914/. http://ecsdfl.schoolloop.com/L.17.9.

A. A, because it has more variety of organisms

B. B, because several predators compete for food
C. A, because most of the animals can eat other organisms
D. B, because there are more food consumers than producers

5. The table below shows three different ecosystems containing the specified number
of species. Which ecosystem would be best able to sustain itself?

Ecosystem Ecosystem Ecosystem

A B C
Number of different plant species 50 100 10
Number of different animal species 9 40 10

A. Ecosytem A, it has least number of animal species.

B. Ecosystem C, it can sustain itself because it has few species.
C. Ecosystem C, it has equal number of plant and animal species.
D. Ecosystem B, it has too many different species to sustain itself.

References:

Escambia County School District. SC.912.L.17.9 Food Webs and Energy Transfer,
N.d.ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/L.17.9.

Green, Ethel. “Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stability.” N.d.

slideplayer.com/slide/6016986/.
Learn Food Web in 2 Minutes, www.toppr.com/content/story/amp/food-web-54914/.

Phia, Q. Tubbataha- Wall Street- Table Coral Life. 13 Mar. 2014,

www.flickr.com/photos/q-phia/13117957335/in/album-72157642278660364/.

Poczesniok, Matthia. Cattle Farm. 24 Apr. 2020. https://pixabay.com/photos/cattle-

cattle-farm-cattle-austria-5090089/.

ANSWER KEY:

PRE-TEST
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. D
5. D

ACTIVITY
1. A. different kinds of fishes, seaweeds, algae, other marine plants, corals,
turtles
B. cattle, grasses, trees, other small plants.
2. Tubbataha Reef
3. Marine organisms can survive from other food sources aside from seaweeds
4. Without grasses for food, cattles may eventually die
5. Tubbataha Reef, it is more diverse
6. Tubattaha Reef
7. A more diverse ecosystem is more stable

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Trawling reduces coral reef biodiveristy
2. Coral reef would be less stable after trawling.
3. A reduced variety of organisms or low biodiversity would make the coral reef
less stable.

POST TEST
1. D
2. D
3. D
4. A
5. D
 LESSON 2: POPULATION GROWTH AND CARRYING
CAPACITY
EXPECTATIONS
You will explain the relationship between population growth and carrying
capacity. Specifically, this module will help you to:
• identify the limiting factors that affect population growth.
• describe carrying capacity.
• explain how population growth affects the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.
• suggest ways to conserve biodiversity and its resources.

PRE TEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which refers to the largest population an area can support with its resources?
A. carrying capacity B. emigration
C. immigration D. population density
2. The graph shows the population growth of bats. What is the carrying capacity as
shown in the graph?
Population Size

A. 0 B. 2500
C. 7500 D. 10000

Time

3. What happens to the population when it grows past the ecosystem's carrying
capacity?
A. The population stays the same.
B. The population continues to grow.
C. The population will go extinct due to lack of resources.
D. The population drops, reaching a capacity the ecosystem can support.
4. An increase in population of house lizard causes a decrease in population of
mosquito. What limits the population of mosquito?
A. diseases and parasites B. emigration
C. predation D. competition for resources
5. A new strain of virus, Corona Virus, has caused deaths to almost half a million of
population in different countries. What factor limits the population of the world?
A. Disease and Parasites - Density -dependent
B. Resources - Density-Independent
C. Competition - Density-Dependent
D. Emigration - Density-Independent
LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON
You recall on some terms that you will encounter as you proceed with the
lesson.
Choose the letter that describes the following word/s correctly in each item.
Terms Description
1. Species A. It consists of a community of organisms together with their
physical environment.
2. Population B. The increase in population size during a period of time
3. Population C. The average number of individuals in a population per unit of
size area
4. Population D. A group of organisms belonging to the same species that live
Density in the same area and interact with one another.
5. Population E. The number of individuals in a population
Growth
6. Community F. It is comprised of related organisms that share common
characteristics and are capable of interbreeding.
7. Ecosystem G. All of the populations of different species that live in a given
area

BRIEF INTRODUCTION
You have already learned from the previous lesson that biodiversity plays an
important role in maintaning a healthy and productive ecosystem. The variety of
species in a community contributes to its stability. The more species in a community
however does not guarantee a healthy relationship between all the organisms.
Problems arise when the population of organisms becomes too many. To maintain the
balance of the ecosystem and to make sure that all inhabitants receive their needs
such as food and other resources, the environment must be occupied by limited
population. The maximum number of species an a environment can handle is known
as carrying capacity. Carrying capacity describes the connection between resources
available and population growth. There are factors that can affect the quality of lives
of species in an area if the population goes beyond the environment’s carrying
capacity. These include, shortage of food, space for shelter, and ability to find suitable
mate. If these needs are not met, the species population will decline until the
environment’s resources bounce back.
ACTIVITIES
Now, you will conduct your own population study with a population size of 100
Draco lizard endemic to the Philippines. You will expose the Draco lizards to factors
that they commonly encounter in their natural ecosystem and find out how these
factors affect the population.
Activity: Draco Lizard Population
Objectives:
1. Identify factors and explain how these affect the population growth.
2. Construct, analyze and interpret a population graph.
3. Explain how population growth affects the carrying capacity of an ecosystem.
Procedure:
1. Prepare 30 slips of paper.
2. Write a letter on each slip. Have one A, B; two C, D, E, F; and 5 G, H, I.
3. Place your slips in an envelope. Draw out one slip at a time and refer to the cards
below that corresponds to each letter you picked.

A. Trees were cut B. A forest C. Snake preyed

which resulted in half fire caused on; taking away 5
of the population to 20 lizards to from the lizard
decrease. die. population.

D. There are too E. Hunters F. There is a mate!

many males, shot and Add 5 to the
decrease the killed 10 population.
population by 20. lizards.

G. Enough supply of H. Enough I. There is shelter!

water! food! Add 10 Add 10 to the
Add 10 to the to the population.
population. population.
Images retrieved from https://www.flickr.com; https://search.creativecommons.org and https://ontrack-media.net

4. Read what the card says.

5. Identify and record in your table the factor that affects the population.
6. Record also the effect on population. For example, if the card says that hunters
shot and killed 10 lizards, the effect on population is -10.
7. Record the new number of lizards in your population. In the example, new
population is 90. Then carry the new number into the row below for the next turn.
DO NOT put the card back in the envelope.
4. Draw the next card and continue drawing and recording data until you have drawn
20 slips and completed all 20 trials.
Note that every turn is 2 months.

Trial Population Limiting Effect on New

Factor Population Population
1 100
2
3
20 trials
1 trial – 2 months
5. Construct a Draco Lizard Population graph.

Population Size

Month
Guide Questions:
1. Describe your graph. Identify month-range when resources are unlimited showing
in an increase in population? When is there a decrease in population?
2. What factor/s greatly affect the decrease in the population?
3. There is a point in time when the population reaches the so-called carrying capacity.
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of organisms that an ecosystem can
support.
Looking at your data table and graph, what would you predict is the carrying capacity
of the ecosystem?
4. What are the factors that impact population growth and caused the population to
reach carrying capacity?
5. At what month-range is your graph similar to the graph shown by figure A below?
What does it indicate about the resources of the ecosystem?
6. What happens to the population when it reaches the carrying capacity?
7. Based from your answers, what do you think a “limiting factor” is?

Figure A Figure B
OpenStax CNX. Environmental Limits to Population Growth.
https://cnx.org/contents/GFy_h8cu@10.12:eeuvGg4a
@4/Environmental-Limits-to-Population-Growth.

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. When resources are limited, populations exhibit logistic
growth. During this period, population expansion decreases as resources become
scarce.
Limiting factors can be density-independent or density-dependent. Density-
independent does not depend on the size of the population. These are factors such
as natural disasters, severe weather, pollution and activities of humans. For example,
regardless of the size of the population of deer, a wildfire can abruptly decrease the
population of deer. Even if resources such as food is limited, it can support a small
population. But when population gets large enough, the limited food may no longer be
enough, leading to competition for resources. In this case, competition for food is a
density-dependent limiting factor as it depends on population density. Competition
for resources, predation, disease and parasites and emigration are other density-
dependent factors.

8. As part of the ecosystem, what ways can you do to conserve our resources such
as food?

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. The rice black bug (RBB), or known as itim na atangya in Filipino,
commonly found in rice fields and farmlands, were not properly
managed. The insects feed or suck on developing grains of rice from
its seedling up to the maturity stage. What is the type of population
growth? _______________________________________________
Rice Black Bug (2019). Major
Infestation: What are Black Bugs?
https://topbest.ph/blogs/major-
infestation-black-bugs/.

2. Philippine Eagle obtain food, reproduce and nourish their offspring

in forests. But illegal logging and irresponsible use of resources have
resulted to the destruction of their natural habitat that consequently
brings deathly consequences to the species.
II, N. T. B. R. (2007, December 4).
Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga
A. What is the type of population growth? jefferyi). https://www.flickr.com
______________________________
B. What is the limiting factor that affects the population? Is it dependent or
independent limiting factor? _______________________________________

3. Different species of trees compete with each other for sunlight

and growing space. Is the factor that limits the population of species
density-dependent or density independent? Explain why briefly.
__________________________________________________________________
Forest. https://ontrack-
media.net/gateway/science8/g_
s8m4l2s3.html.

POST TEST
Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is TRUE based on the population graph shown?
A. The population is maintained at a certain level.
B. The graph shows an exponential growth of population.
C. The graph shows the carrying capacity the population has
reached.
D. The population growth slows, and the population size tends to
level off.
2. Which of the following are density dependent factors?
A. disease B. predation
C. natural disasters D. competition for resources

3. Many fish die due to a drastic change in water temperature. What factor limits the
population of fish?
A. emigration B. carrying capacity
C. density dependent D. density-independent

4. Which of the following is shown by the population graph below?

A. A shark regularly hunts a large school of fish.
B. Weather conditions favor the ferns that grow well in soil.
C. A mountain goat population lives in a remote area with limited
resources.
D. Some bat species migrate to a warmer area in search for food during cold days.

5. Corona virus population has been growing and spreading across different countries.
What could we do in this time of pandemic that Corona virus has been greatly affecting
the population of the world? How can we avoid exposure to and spread of this virus?
A. Observe physical distancing and avoid going to crowded places.
B. Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or
wash them with soap and water.
C. Stay home and self-isolate even with minor symptoms such as cough,
headache, mild fever, until you recover.
D. All of the above.

References:

Miller, H. (2016, March 21). The Ups and Downs of Populations.

https://science4inquiry.com/LP_PopulationMS.php.

OpenStax CNX. Environmental Limits to Population Growth.

https://cnx.org/contents/GFy_h8cu@10.12:eeuvGg4a@4/Environmental-Limits-
to-Population-Growth.

ANSWER KEY:

PRE-TEST
1. A
2. D
3. D
4. C
5. A
LOOKING BACK TO YOUR LESSON
1. F
2. D
3. E
4. C
5. B
6. G
7. A

ACTIVITY

1-2. There is a decrease in population when there is predator, habitat loss and
human activities like hunting.
3. Answers vary
4. Abundant resources like food, water and shelter and mate are the factors that
impact population growth and cause a population to reach carrying capacity.
5. It shows an abundance in resources.
6. Population expansion decreases as resources become scarce.
7. A limiting factor is an environmental factor that causes a population to
decrease.

CHECKING YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. Exponential growth
2. Logistic growth.
Habitat loss due to human activities such as illegal logging.
Density-independent.
3. Density-dependent. Competition for resources depends on population density.

POST TEST
1. B
2. A, B, D
3. D
4. B
5. D

Acknowledgements
Writers: Melinessa P. Añabieza
Editors: Rebecca M. Roxas-EPS
Reviewer: Arlen S. Gatpo
Public School District Supervisor
Management Team: Maria Magdalena M. Lim
Schools Division Superintendent-Manila
Aida H. Rondilla
Chief Education Supervisor
Lucky S. Carpio
Education Program Supervisor
Lady Hannah C Gillo,
Librarian II-LRMS