Chapter 9: Biodiversity and the Health Society

Learning Objectives

After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Define biodiversity;
• Determine the interrelatedness of biodiversity, environment, and
health;
• Discuss the ethics, implications, and potential future impacts of
GMOs; and
• Propose a plan or make a stand that would show the relatedness of
species in forming up a diverse and healthy society without
compromising each other.

Activating Prior Knowledge

Checkpoint 1
All living things exist in balance with other living things and physical
factor.
Unknown

Bio diversity
Look at the word “biodiversity”. It’s actually two words combined
together. With your partner, breakdown the meaning of the two words in
biodiversity.

Bio means___________________________________________________
Diversity means ______________________________________________

Now, combine the two words and try to come up with your own definition
of biodiversity:

Biodiversity means____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Let us compare your definition with the following definitions provided:

Biodiversity is defined as the vast variety of life forms I the entire earth
which includes the simplest unicellular organism to the most complex
multicellular organism. (Serafico, 2018)

Another definition of biodiversity is the variability of organisms including

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species thriving in different ecosystems like marine, freshwater or any
aquatic and terrestrial and the ecological complexes of which they are
part; this includes diversity between, within and of ecosystems. ( Villago
Globale, 2009)

After you are done defining biodiversity, ask your pair to take a walk
around the campus and note of the different organisms present on it.
Classify the organisms you have seen and construct a pie chart. Using the
pie chart, what do you think scientist expect to discover more species?
Why do you think these oranisms would thrive more as the time pass by?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Presentation of Contents

Your answer in the above questions actually explains that biotic factors
(living thins) are related to the abiotic factors (non-living things). For
example, your answer is an increase in the population of rats in a rice field
or decrease in the number of dragonflies in the area; therefore there must
be changes in the environment. Thus a change in the environment can
cause a change in the biodiversity. And a change in the biodiversity could
have erratic effects in not only in wildlife and marine but also in human
beings.

Now get a copy of the lecture from your professor.

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ACTIVITY 1: Collaborative Annotation Chart

Directions:
A printed copy of the PowerPoint presentation entitled “Biodiversity,
Health and the Science of Genetically modified Organisms” was given to
you to serve as a hand-out for today’s lecture. The 1st time you read your
hand-out (assignment), you placed your pencil down and just read to
understand. Today, while listening, it’s time to mark your hand-outs by
using the symbol * to mark key ideas,! symbol to mark surprising ideas
and O symbol to mark things you connect with. Write a quick comment
about why you picked that sentence, word or idea. Lastly, share with your
partner. Be sure to identify the quote or passage you selected. Then, share
your comment using a “Sample Language Support” to get your discussion
flowing. Record your partner’s response as well.

Symbol Comment Sample Language Support

* • Key ideas expressed • One significant idea in the
• Main points lecture is
• Ma’am/sir is trying to
convey

! • Surprising details/claims • I was surprised to know

that…
• How can anyone claim
that..
O • Ideas/ sections you • This section reminded me
connect with of...
• What this reminds you • This connects with my
of experience in that…
.
Use this part as your answer sheet

Symbol Slide Your Comment or Your partner’s

number reason for marking this comment/ question to
passage what you said

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Now let’s have a summary of our today’s lesson.

“Ang mga bagay ay magkaugnay, magkaugnay ang lahat..”- a line from a

famous filipino song. This line explains what is meant by biodiversity. All
living things are related to each other, an idea called biodiversity. It
started with the cncept of taxonomy, a system devised by Carolus
Linnaeus. Up to this point, different efforts were done like the declaration
of 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. (McNamara, 2018)

Biodiversity, also known as biological diversity is the term given to the

variety of life on earth and the natural patterns it forms. This diversity I
often understood in terms of variety of plants, animals and
microorganisms. The loss of biodiversity threatens food supplies,
opportunities for recreation and tourism, and sources of wood, medicines
and energy. It also interferes with ecological functions. (Thorsen (2010).

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The Philippines is considered a mega-diversity country rivaled only by a
few countries in the world when it comes to variety of ecosystems,
species and genetic resources. Many of the island comprising the
archipelago are believed to have a very high degree of land and animal
endemism. The country hosts more than 52,177 described species of
which more than half is found nowhere else in the world (Philippine
Biodiversity Conservation Priorities: A second iteratioin of the National
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2002). On a per unit area basis, the
Philippines probably harbors more diversity of life than any other country
on the planet.

The country is also considered a biodiversity hotspot. This is because the

Philippines continues to experience an alarming rate of destruction of
these important resources brought about by overexploitation,
deforestation, land degradation, climate change, and pollution (including
biological pollution), among others. The table below shos you a glimpse
of the flora and fauna of the Philippines as summarized by DENR. (2006)

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Several threats to biodiversity as identified by the United Nations’
Environmenta Programme (WHO, n.d) includes the following:

1. Habitat loss and destruction due to inhabitation of human beings and

the use of land for economic gains.
2. Alterations in the ecosystem composition like sudden decrease or
increase of population density can contribute to species loss.
3. Over-exploitation like over hunting, overfishing, over collecting of
species can lead to species density fluctuations. This is due to changing
consumption of individuals that causes unsustainable exploitation of
natural resources.
4. Pollution and contamination of the biological systems that can damage
the health of species.
5. Global climate change can also lead to diversity loss. Species and
populations may be lost permanently if they are not provided with enough
time to adopt to changing environments.

According to WHO, biodiversity is a vital element of human’s nutrition

because it entails food production. We all know that food comes from our
environment and threats as mentioned above can alter the density of
species that can lead to species loss and decrease in biodiversity. Almost
all organisms depend on the environment and lack of basic necessities can
cause mortality. Increase prevalence of cancer, heart diseases, asthma and
many other illnesses has arisen due to habitat alteration. Environmental
hazards can be physical like pollution, toxic chemicals, and food
contaminants; social such as work, poor housing conditions, urban sprawl
and poverty. Increase diseases like amoebiasis, diarrhea, cholera, gastritis
and meningitis are related to unsafe food and drinks. Most of the
population also lacked basic access to basic sanitation.

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Researchers have been discovering new ways to improve crop production,
address health illness and decrease biodiversity loss. The Biodiversity
International has released a module titled “Law and policy of relevance to
the management of plant genetic resources” which aims to help
professionals in managing, conserving, and using plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture. In fact, it elaborates the possible use of genetic
engineering in the production of living modified organisms (LMOs) or
genetically modified organisms (GMOs). (Bragdon, et.al. ) Law makers
also consider vulnerable populations when drafting and implementing
environmental health regulations in relation to biodiversity. Various
public health strategies and human rights issues in research were also
considered in the quest for a better environment and stable biodiversity.

After the lecture, kindly get a copy of the following articles,

1. “The politics of golden Rice” (Dubock, Adrian GM Crops & Food.

Jul-Sep2014, Vol5 Issue 3 p 210-222 13p.)
2. “Ethics in Research with Vulnerable Populations and Emerging
Countries: The Golden Rice Case.” (Duguet, Anne Marie et. al.,
Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulations. Summer
2013, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p979-1013, 35p)
3. Agro-ecology: What it is and what it has to offer? Is this the future of
farming?

Application

ACTIVITY 2: Biodiversity Saver in the Making

BIG IDEA:

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn

to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.
E.O. Wilson

Complete the table:

Below are statements for you to ponder. On your first time to read them
(Day 1), kindly check whether you agree or disagree. Find time to search
using available resources, and write down ideas that will lead to to your
final decision whether to support or not the concept together with their
evidences.

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 Extended Anticipatory Guide

Day 1 : Opinion Day ____: Findings Evidence/s

Agree Disagree Support No support

1.
Environmental
changes
caused by
humans can
always be
reversed.

2. We can
learn from
history so that
we will not
repeat the
same mistake.
3. All
scientific
experiments
does not affect
biodiversity

4. One
organism
becoming
extinct does
not hurt nature
because there
are millions of
organisms on
earth

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 BIG IDEA:

Based on evolutionary theory, organisms’ innate characteristic in its

genome dictates its ability to survive. Breakthroughs in modern
technology lead to what we call genetically modified organisms or
GMOs which has changed the concept of survival.

ACTIVITY 3: Search the Facts and Make a Stand

Divide the class into two groups and ask them to research on the different
genetically modified organisms, the pros and cons of genetically
modifying crops, and ethical implications and impacts of it.
Ask each leader to come up with different arguments supposing they
belong to the negative and positive side.
Using the toss coin system let the leaders choose head– pros and tail–
cons.

Let the groups debate in class with the argument below:

Genetically modified products are safe to eat.

The rubric below will be used in grading the students’ outputs.

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 Feedback

BIG IDEA:

We should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn

to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity.
E.O. Wilson

ACTIVITY 4: Think about these questions

1. How would you reconcile the emerging needs of human beings

regarding their health and the need to protect the biodiversity?
2. Do you think scientific researches that modify the genes of organisms
bring more advantages than disadvantages?

Now you are ready to take a quiz for today’s discussion.

Reflection

BIG IDEA:

Together let us make a stand in protecting the nature, in this way we can
protect our children's future.
-Unknown

ACTIVITY5: I-Pledge

Advocacy Writing

In groups of five, brainstorm and come up with an advocacy on the need

to reconcile the emerging needs of human beings and the need to protect
the growth of biodiversity.

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