Lesson 1

Lesson Title: Ecosystem: Classification, Types, Structure and Structure

Activity

Draw a typical freshwater ecosystem (lake or pond) and identify each part as living things and non-living
things.

Analysis

Using the drawn ecosystem, discuss the interaction of each part.

Freshwater ecosystems share resources between habitats naturally. For example, the ecosystems in rivers
and streams carry salts and nutrients from the mountains to the lower elevation lakes, ponds, and
wetlands, and ultimately bring those nutrients to the ocean. These rivers also make it possible to carry
nutrients from the ocean to upstream freshwater habitats through spawning animals, such as salmon.

Lakes and ponds, on the other hand, can exchange nutrients in a seasonal cycle

Not only fish, also algae, plankton, insects, amphibians and aquatic plants are home to freshwater
ecosystems. In freshwater ecosystems, plants and algae are important because they provide oxygen to
freshwater animals through photosynthesis and food. For humans, freshwater ecosystems are very
important because they provide water for domestic use, electricity, transport, leisure, etc.
Application

1. What is the limiting factor in terrestrial ecosystem? In aquatic ecosystems?

Important limiting factors for terrestrial ecosystems are:
1. Rainfall or precipitation
2. Temperature
3. Micronutrients
Important limiting factors for aquatic ecosystems are:
1. Water temperature
2. Sunlight
3. Dissolve oxygen
4. Salinity

2. Discuss the similarities and differences of aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems.
In terms of Location, Aquatic ecosystem is an ecosystem located in a body of water while
Terrestrial ecosystems are found on land.
The lower availability of water and the consequent importance of water as a limiting factor
differentiate terrestrial ecosystems from aquatic ecosystems. These are characterized by greater
temperature variations in comparison to aquatic ecosystems in similar climates, both on a daily
and seasonal basis. Availability of light is greater in terrestrial ecosystems than in aquatic
ecosystems because the atmosphere is more transparent on land than in water. Differences in
temperature and light in terrestrial ecosystems results to variation of flora and fauna.
3. Can you consider coral reef an ecosystem? Why?
Yes, Coral reefs, matched only by tropical rain forests, are one of the most biologically diverse
ecosystems on earth. A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by corals that create
reefs. The reefs are made up of coral polyp colonies held together by calcium carbonate. The
majority of coral reefs are made of stony corals, whose polyps are clustered in groups.
4. Discuss and give example of ecological succession.
Ecological Succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems change and evolve over time.
Nothing remains the same and ecosystems are changing constantly.
Two main types of succession, primary and secondary, are present.
The primary succession is the series of changes in the community that occur in an entirely new
habitat that has never been colonized before. A newly quarried rock face, for instance, or sand
dunes.
Secondary succession is the series of changes in the population that take place in an ecosystem
that was previously colonized, but disrupted or destroyed. After felling trees in a forest, land
clearing or a burn, for example.

Example: Open water such as a lake or pond eventually becomes climax woodland.
Lesson 2

Lesson Title: Biomes: Concept, Classification and Distribution.

Activity

The Philippines is composed of different Islands with different climate. Draw at least two
terrestrial biomes – one from Mindanao and the other one either from Luzon or Visayas.

Mindanao: Lake Duminagat, Mount Malindang (Tropical and subtropical moist forest/ jungle)

Central Visayan Island: Kanlaon, Negros Island (Greater Negros-Panay rain forests)

Luzon: Pine forest in Benguet(Luzon tropical pine forests are a tropical coniferous

forest ecoregion)
1. Identify the different ecosystems within the biome;
I. Mindanao: Lake Duminagat, Mount Malindang
The ecoregion of the Mindanao montane rain forests includes the montane forests-the
area between the lowland forest and the mountain treeline of the island of Mindanao in
the Philippines. Biodiversity is strong, both due to the isolation of different mountain
ranges that have led to variation of species within the island and due to the zonation of
altitude. The montane areas have become a significant sanctuary for endangered and
endemic species since much of the surrounding lowland forest has been cleared for
human use.
II. Central Visayan Island: Kanlaon, Negros Island (Greater Negros-Panay rain forests)
Kanlaon, officially known as Mount Kanlaon, is an active stratovolcano on the Philippine
island of Negros. This climate is characterized as hot , humid, and has at least 60 mm of
precipitation every month, making it the highest point in Negros, as well as the entire
Visayas region. Precipitation on the islands is 2,417 mm / year on average, with July and
August being the wettest months.
III. Luzon: Pine forest in Benguet
Luzon has been separated from other land masses for a long time, so it has produced a
special flora. Benguet pine (Pinus insularis) trees are thinly scattered across the
grasslands that cover the slopes in this eco-region. The pine and grassland balance is
maintained by frequent fires in the dry season and other deciduous trees and shrubs are
prevented from taking root.
2. Identify the dominant tree species.
Tree Species

Mindanao: Lake Duminagat, Mount Malindang

(Tall Dipterocarp Trees and Knema glomerata)

Central Visayan Island: Kanlaon, Negros Island

(White Nato, Baguilomboi, Hungot-hungotan,)
 3. Describe the type of climate where the biome is found.
Mindanao: Lake Duminagat, Mount Malindang
The climate of Misamis Occidental is categorised as tropical. There is substantial rainfall in
Misamis Occidental, with precipitation even during the driest month. Köppen and Geiger identify
this position as Af.
Central Visayan Island: Kanlaon, Negros Island
Central Visayas is one of the coldest areas in the Philippines, with an average temperature of just
32 degrees Celsius per day. High humidity and high temperatures occasionally, but even partly
tropically hot and humid, make the weather fun. It's warm or hot for a whole year,
Luzon: Pine forest in Benguet
Benguet has many different climates, but the most prevalent ones are Am(Tropical monsoon
climate), Cwb.( Subtropical highland oceanic climate).

Analysis

1. What are the differences between the two biomes you have drawn in activity section of this
lesson in terms of structure and biotic composition?

Lake Duminagat is the only established lake site, It is considered as an upland small crater lake with a
total area of 8.04 ha (Hansel et al., 2005) nestled adjacent in the north peak of Mount Malindang Range
Natural. been cleared by logging and shifting cultivation.Mt. Malindang Range has three main type of
forest covers that includes the Dipterocarp forest, Lower Montane forest, and the Mossy forest.Lake
Duminagat has no visible inlet streams with only one small outlet stream. The lake is oligotrophic with at
least five fish species on record. Freshwater fish species collected in Lake Duminagat, Mount Malindang
Range Natural Park (May 2013). A) A. marmorata; B) B. binotatus; C) C. carpio carpio; D) X. maculatus;
E) P. reticulata; F-H) X. hellerii variety (male and female. The faunal inventory consists of 37 mammals
(68% reptiles endemic), 158 birds (42%endemic), 11 reptiles (27% endemic) and 14 amphibians (43%
endemic). These include 15 birds, 5 mammals, 3 reptiles and 3 amphibians threatened species such as the
Philippine Eagle, Philippine Deer, Philippine Tarsier,Rufous Hornbill, Flying Lemur, Reticulated Python,
Monitor Lizard, MindanaoWarty Pig, and other rare and endangered species. About 24 birds and 3 reptile
species have cultural and socio-economic significance to the local communitiesWhile Kanlaon is a
stratovolcano in the north central part of the island of Negros. It has two summit cones, each with a
crater,frugivorous butterflies, a common indicator taxon, at a limited spatial scale in Mount Kanlaon
Natural Park, Negros Occidental, Philippines,Endemic butterfly species were abundant in Mount
Kanlaon. There are also 50 species of animals distributed into 40 genera, 81 species of butterflies
classified into 32 genera and belonging to four families, and 22 families of birds inside the park

2. Why the vegetation is the major structure that identify a biome?

Both soil and water create a series of filters, selecting for the best-suited traits and trait syndrome that
determine the vegetation physiognomy. Vegetation is not a passive entity under the control of the
environment. Across spatial scales, feedbacks between vegetation and climate, soils and disturbance
regimes create new environments.Vegetation-physiognomic aspects that could represent multiple stable
states are present in all scale.The patches of biomes are linked by a common network of ecological
processes that define the selective pressures as macroclimatic, soil-related, hydrological and natural large-
scale disturbance factors and stressors.

3. Why climate is the major driving force in forming global biotic pattern?

Climate is the major factor that determines the pattern of vegetation. Climate-based classification system
of vegetation has been developed to classify different biomes.

Application

1. Explain the role of humans in the evolution of biomes.

 Human over-population leads to over exploitation of resources. Forest area will be

reduced to pave way to human settlements. Population increase ultimately causes
pollution increase. It forms the prime factor causing biodiversity depletion. Most
importantly, population increase causes the other seven (7) main threats to biodiversity.
 The effects of dams, which redirect water and change wildlife ecosystems, are faced by
freshwater biomes; water withdrawal for human use; contamination and runoff from
human settlements.
 The forests that has undergone significant deforestation due to logging, power generation,
the expansion of agriculture and the paper industry is the forest biome most at risk from
human development.
 Deserts are at risk of extreme evaporation, losing what little moisture can be used for
their structures at present.
 Habitat destruction/deforestation has played a key role in species extinction.

2. Explain why latitude, rainfall and altitude are factors that influence the formation of
biomes?
The geographical factors influencing the ecosystem balance and the formation of biomes are:
 Latitude determines the amount of heat in a specific area due to the proximity to the
equator line. The closer the area is, the more heat there will be.
 Rainfall. The amount of rain that takes place in an area annually determines whether it
would be humid, semi-arid or arid.
 Altitude determines the distance from the zone
3. Discuss the similarities and differences of the six (6) biomes.

Differences
1. The desert biome: Desert biomes are the hot and dry areas of the world. These are the arid
or semi-arid lands with little or no vegetation.
2. The forest biome: These are mainly composed of trees and vegetation plantations that store
carbon and have a feature of controlling the earth’s climate.
 3. The aquatic biome: Aquatic biomes refer to all the water bodies on the earth’s surface.
Aquatic biomes refer to all the water bodies on the earth’s surface
4. The tundra biome: The Tundra biomes are the coldest of all the land biomes and are
characterized with very little biodiversity. The lands in tundra biomes are barren due to very
little rain and the freezing temperatures.
5. The grassland biomes: Grassland biomes are the regions of the land with extensive grass
species or grass species with sparsely distributed trees
6. Chaparral or shrubland biome: These biomes are vegetated with shrubs; dry and hot during
summer and moist and cool in winter. Wildfire occurrences are very common in chaparrals
especially in summer.

Similarities
 Many organisms are active in both biomes and ecosystems and these organisms interact with their
environment.
 Another similarity between ecosystems and biomes is that there are several different species
within both of them. To coexist, the species must adapt.

Lesson 3

Lesson Title: Biodiversity and Conservation

Activity

Draw biodiversity Philippine biodiversity hotspots. Indicate the geographical location and the type of
ecosystem.

The Sierra Madre Mountains in Isabela Province

The Sierra Madre is the longest mountain range in the Philippines. In the north, the range starts in
the province of Cagayan and ends in the south in the province of Quezon. In the province of Nueva
Vizcaya, the Caraballo Mountains connect Sierra Madre Mountain range with the Cordillera
Central range.

The mountain range serves as a typhoon barrier, attenuating incoming typhoons from the Pacific
Ocean before reaching the central mainland
The Sierra Madre is a combination of forest and mountain ecosystem

Length 540 km (340 mi) North to south

Width 56 km (35 mi) east to west

Area 16,260 km2 (6,280 sq mi)

 Analysis

Using your drawing activity, kindly;

1. Discuss why it is considered a biodiversity hotspot.

The Sierra Madre is considered a biodiversity hotspot because there are a wide range of forms of
life (such as bacteria, fungi, ferns, nematodes, insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, gymnosperms,
and angiosperms). There are areas with a high biodiversity of endangered species, many of which
are extremely endemic.
To be exact Sierra Madre has Over 291 bird species can be found in the NSMNP. Among the 83
of these birds which can only be found in the Philippines is the national bird, the Philippine
Eagle. Of the mammals that have been found there, 25 cannot be found anywhere in the world.
The Golden Crowned Flying Fox can be found there roosting along steep slopes and cliff faces,
among the heaviest of the world’s flying mammals. The freshwater Philippine Crocodile is one of
the 16 endemic reptile species present in the NSMNP.

2. What are the endemic species found in the area?

 One of sixteen reptile species found in the NSMNP that are endemic to the Philippines is
the freshwater Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis).
 The Sierra Madre shrew mouse and Sierra Madre forest mouse are endemic mammals in
Sierra Madre.
3. What is the conservation status of the species found the area?
This watershed, including its microbasin, the Laiban sub-watershed,
The sub-watershed has recently been listed as one of the 14 priority conservation sites for
biodiversity within the SMBC. This was intended to produce baseline information on the types of
vegetation and sub-watershed composition and to classify the conservation status of the plant
species in the region.
Some of the species found in sierra madre
Application

1. How and why

biodiversity
varies around
the globe?
 It is possible to divide biodiversity into three ( 3) groups. These are the
 Genetic diversity: This the finer levels of the diversity organization. It includes the genetic
variation within species, both among geographically separated populations and among
individuals within the single population.
 Species diversity: This refers to the variety of species within a region. It is measures on the basis
of number of species. Species richness varies geographically. Keystone species have an
important role in maintaining the diversity of a whole community of other species.
 Ecosystem diversity: This refers to the variations in the biological communities in which species
live, the ecosystem in which communities exist and the interaction among these levels. In the
living world, interdependence and interaction between organisms and their environment are a
very common practice to asset one’s existence

2. Discuss the importance of biodiversity.

For several factors, biodiversity is important to humans. Many even consider that biodiversity
has an intrinsic value, that is, each species has a value and a right to live, whether or not it is
understood that it has value to humans.

 Biodiversity indirectly influences the climatic factors, soil nature, chemistry of air and
other abiotic elements of an ecosystem.
 Economic biodiversity- offers raw materials to humans for consumption and production.
Many livelihoods are dependent on biodiversity, such as those of farmers, fishermen
and timber workers.
 Ecological life support -Biodiversity offers functioning ecosystems that provide oxygen,
clean air and water, plant pollination, pest control, wastewater treatment and many
ecosystem services with.
 Recreation-many outdoor activities, such as bird watching, hiking , camping and fishing,
depend on our unique biodiversity. Biodiversity is also based on our tourism industry.
 Biodiversity is a wealth of systematic ecological data that allows us to understand the
world of nature and its origins.

3. Compare the different conservation strategies in terms of effectiveness.

Conservation methods therefore aim at preservation, maintenance, conservation, recovery and

enhancement.

1. Protection against degradation and destruction of natural ecosystems

Conservation of biodiversity requires promoting a balance between the climate, culture and
development, in line with the objectives of sustainable development. Through properly
enforced policies, sustainable development can be achieved
2. Maintain, restore and increase ecological systems while promoting the implementation of
better conservation practices
 It includes, among other natural environments, the maintenance and recovery of a number
of species and degraded ecological systems, such as destroyed forest areas and highly
polluted streams, rivers, and lands. Ex-situ conservation includes the strategic protection of
hotspots for endangered species and ecosystems for biodiversity.
3. Identification and protection of endangered species
Ex-situ biodiversity conservation aims to reduce the ongoing extinction up to 30% or higher
by mainly focusing on two things. First, the focus on conservation of biodiversity in their
natural habitats in places likes museums, arboretums, zoos, and gene banks. The second
strategy focuses on captive conservation methods that involve the protection of
endangered species.
4. Establishing buffer zones to prevent any alteration in the balance of natural ecosystem
Biodiversity conservation prioritizes on establishing control measures that maintain the
balance of natural ecosystems such as water balance, soil ecology, and genetic as well as
species balance.
5. Science, Technology and Research-Tools for conserving biodiversity
It leads to improved science and technology. Science, and specifically ecology, help
scientists to understand the web of interactions in our biomes and pinpoint the key species
in ecosystems
6. Captive breeding and Gene Banks
It requires the capture of animals that are often near extinction. Captive breeding of
animals and artificial propagation of plants is somewhat controversial; however, on the
positive side, it provides the opportunity to increase the population of the species so that
they can be reintroduced into the wild.