10 Department of Education

National Capital Region

SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE
MARIKINA CITY

Science
Quarter 3 – Module 8
Adaptation and Ecological Stability

Josefina O. Manuel

0
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What I Need to Know

The purpose of this module is to help you understand an ecosystem as being

capable of supporting a limited number of organisms. The module is divided into
three lessons, namely:
● Lesson 1 – Effect of Biodiversity on Adaptation and Survival of Organisms
● Lesson 2 – Biodiversity and Ecological Stability
● Lesson 3 – Effects of Biodiversity on Ecological Stability

After going through this module, you are expected to explain how species
diversity increases the probability of adaptation and survival of organisms in
changing environments. S10LT-IIIh-41
Specifically, you are expected to:
● describe and explain how diversity increases the probability of adaptation
and survival of organisms in a changing environment; and
● explain how biodiversity is related to stability.

What I Know

Read the statement carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Organisms belonging to a species may demonstrate a unique trait. How can
this variation in traits within a species increase their adaptation in the
ecosystem?
A. Unique traits among organisms allow them to proliferate.
B. Predators will avoid the species with unique traits.
C. Organisms with desirable traits adapted and maintained the presence of
their species in the ecosystem.
D. Species with unique traits have a high percentage of proliferation rate
compared to the species with common traits.

2. Species diversity refers to the variety of species living together in a region.

Which is the BEST example of species diversity?
A. Different types of insects in a garden
B. Alamid, cheetah, and lion belong to the family of cats
C. Fungi, plants, and animals interacting in an ecosystem
D. Moths and butterflies have similarities in their physical appearance.

1
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 3. Which is the effect of biodiversity on the survival of species in the
ecosystem?
A. Disrupts disturbances
B. Proliferates predators
C. Lowers resiliency of organisms
D. Maintains the interactions of organisms

4. Which causes a decrease in the stability of the ecosystem?

A. Low biodiversity C. High Biodiversity
B. Low energy flow D. High energy flow
`For items 5 and 6, consider the scenario below.

Ecosystem A Ecosystem B Ecosystem C

5. Which reflects high biodiversity?

6. Which ecosystem has high stability?

7. Which practice can increase the stability of our forest?

A. Plant different species of trees. C. Propagate the native trees.
B. Introduce new species of trees. D. Clear the weeds to grow more trees.

8. Kamagong, Narra, and Acacia are resilient to strong winds. What would be
the effect of resiliency on the forest?
A. Increases the stability of the forest
B. Maintains the diversity
C. Both A and B
D. Cannot be determined

9. Which is a threat to the balance of the ecosystem?

A. Growth of different species
B. Population of predator increases.
C. Organisms reproduce their kind.
D. Species of prey is greater in number than the species of predator

10. Which is an example of disturbance in the ecosystem?

A. Algal bloom C. Growth of microorganisms
B. Strong wind D. Pouring of heavy rain

2
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Lesson Effect of Biodiversity on Adaptation
1 and Survival of Organisms

What’s In
Below are pictures of the ecosystem. Identify the different organisms and answer
the questions that follow.
A B

Guide Questions:
1. What are the organisms in picture A? What about in picture B?
A B
_______________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________________
_______________________________ _______________________________________
2. Which is more diverse, A or B? Why do you say so?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Based on your answers to questions 1 and 2, what is diversity?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

What’s New

Identify the term being described in each number by filling the boxes with missing
letters.
1. Variations of organisms living in an ecosystem
B O Y

3
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 2. Organisms can adjust to the constantly changing conditions of the
environment
D P N
3. Sum of all external forces and conditions acting on an organism
V O N
4. Group of organisms of the same kind and capable of producing offspring
S I E
5. The complex interaction of organisms among each other and in their
environment
C S E

What Is It
Organisms come in diverse forms: plants, animals, and microorganisms. The
variety of life on Earth refers to biodiversity. There are three main types of
biodiversity. These are the following:
a. Genetic diversity: Variation of genes occurs across species when they
sexually reproduce. This variation may give rise to a unique trait that may
be used by the organisms to increase their adaptation to the changing
environment. When genetic diversity is high, the probability of organisms
adapting is also high.
b. Species diversity: Species is the basic unit in the classification of life in the
ecosystem. Organisms belonging to the same species can reproduce their
kind (offsprings). Species diversity refers to the variety of species living
together in a region. This can be measured by determining the species
richness (the number of species in an area) and species abundance (the
number of individuals belonging to the same species).
c. Ecological diversity: Ecosystem is referring to the complex interaction of
organisms with each other and in their environment. This interaction starts
from harnessing energy from the sun by the producers then it flows to the
different organisms within the ecosystem. As the energy flows from one
species to the next, organisms also use other abiotic factors like air, water,
and minerals. These abiotic factors are returned to the environment through
the process of decomposition done by microorganisms like fungi and
bacteria. As the interaction in the ecosystem becomes wider and dynamic,
the ecosystems merge and create diversity.
These types of diversity increase the probability of adaptation and survival of
species in the changing environment. Species with desirable traits may tend to
adapt and survive in the ecosystem. These species reproduce and continue the

4
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 variation of genes to develop more desirable traits that can be used for the
adaptation of offspring. The interconnection among the organisms and abiotic
factors increases diversity which leads to greater survival of species.

What’s More

Study the diagram below then answer the questions that follow.

ADAPTATION
REPRODUCTION AND
SURVIVAL

A B C

Guide Questions:
1. How many varieties of ants are there in box A? _________________________
2. What type of interaction occurred among the varieties of ants in box A?
_______________________________________________________________________
3. What variety tends to survive and increase in box C?

_______________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions.
1. What are the three types of biodiversity? Write a short description of each
type.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. How does biodiversity increase the probability of adaptation and survival of
organisms in the changing environment? (Note: make your answer concise.)
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What I Can Do
Take a picture of three domestic organisms at home. Identify their
similarities and differences and write some information about them like common
names, unique traits, and habitats. Below is an example for you. Use short bond
paper for your output.

Domesticated Cat
Common name: Pusa/Cat
Unique Trait: They have different
lengths of tail, coat color, and
body size.
Habitat: They live in a tropical
country (like the Philippines) with
human care.

Identify the term being described in each item below.

___________ 1. Variation of life forms on earth
___________ 2. Number of species in a region
___________ 3. Variation in traits of organisms living on earth
___________ 4. Number of individuals belonging to the same species
___________ 5. Different types of ecosystems merge due to the growing
interaction of organisms

Additional Activities
Scientists found out that there are species of native corn that are resistant
and prone to the infection of downy mildew. Given these varieties of native corn,
which variety will survive in the ecosystem? If you were a farmer which variety
would you plant on your farm? Explain your answer.

6
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Lesson
Biodiversity and Ecological Stability
2

What’s In
We usually observe in the garden that there are different colors, sizes, and
wing shapes among butterflies. Is this an example of genetic diversity? Explain
your answer._____________________________________________________________________

What’s New
Observe the pictures below then answer the questions that follow.
Guide Questions:
1. What disturbance occurred in the
area?
________________________________
2. What happened to the trees and
other plants?
_________________________________
3. Do you think the trees and other
plants will grow again after some
time? Explain your
answer._________________________

What Is It
Many disturbances cause changes in the ecosystem. Organisms respond
differently to these disturbances. Their responses determine the stability of the
ecosystem. Stability refers to the tendency of the ecosystem to maintain its
diversity and richness despite human-made or natural disturbances.
There are two types of stability. First is the resistance stability in which the
organisms maintain their normal condition despite the disturbance. As an
example, the trees remain stable and continuously grow after a typhoon. Second is
the resilience stability. Resilience stability refers to the ability of the organisms to
return to their normal conditions after a disturbance. This may be observed when
trees and other plants begin to grow and proliferate in the forest gaps after the

7
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
raging of strong typhoons. However, if there is a wide disturbance in the forest like
illegal logging, the number of trees as well as the number of other organisms
relying on the trees gradually declines. In this scenario, the forest is not stable. A
volcanic eruption is another major disturbance that causes changes in the
ecosystem. These scenarios indicate that ecological stability depends on the type of
community in the ecosystem and the nature of the disturbance.
On the other hand, biodiversity in the ecosystem increases its stability. It is
believed that the greater the number of species in the ecosystem is the higher
chance of surviving and adapting to the changes occurring in the ecosystem. As
biodiversity increases, the chance of producing and accumulating organisms with
desirable traits that can withstand any disturbance also increases making the
ecosystem stable.

What’s More
Study the diagram below then answer the questions that follow.

Ecosystem A Ecosystem B
Guide Questions:
1. Which ecosystem is more diverse? Why?
_____________________________________________________________________
2. If ecosystem A experienced a natural hazard and the organisms withstood its
effect, what kind of stability did it show? ___________________________________

What I Have Learned

Answer the following questions.
1. What is stability?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the two types of stability? Define each type.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. How can biodiversity affect ecological stability?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

8
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What I Can Do
The picture below shows the native trees in the Philippines. Read the basic
information in the picture then answer the following questions.

Guide Questions:

1. These native trees can withstand strong winds of typhoons. What type of
stability do these trees show?
______________________________________________________________________
2. If the number of these trees declines, what do you think would happen to
the ecological stability of our forests? Briefly explain your answer.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

9
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 3. Kamagong is one of the critically endangered species of native trees in the
Philippines. What do you think is the disturbance that causes this
condition?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Assessment
Complete the statements below.

1. Typhoon, flood, and drought are examples of ________________ that may

cause changes in the ecosystem.
2. The capability of the organisms to maintain their normal condition despite
the occurrence of disturbances is called __________________.
3. The _________________ is the tendency of the organisms to grow and return to
their normal condition after a disturbance.
4. Ecological stability is dependent on the _____________ and ___________.
5. The ______________ increases ecological stability.

Additional Activities
Tree planting is normally done in Marikina. DENR encourages the
community to plant native trees. List down two advantages and disadvantages of
planting native trees.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Planting Trees in Marikina

Advantages Disadvantages

Guide Question:
 How does the planting of native trees support biodiversity and ecological
stability?

10
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
Lesson Effects of Biodiversity on Ecological
3 Stability

What’s In
Native trees like Kamagong and Acacia can survive strong winds of typhoons
because they have buttress roots. What type of stability is demonstrated by these
trees? Explain your answer.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

What’s New
Assume that the box below is an ecosystem. Use the legend on the left in
answering the questions that follow.

Legend:
=Predator 1
=Predator 2
=Prey

Ecosystem
Guide Questions:

1. What will happen to the ecosystem if there are more predators? More prey?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Will the predators survive if the preys are all consumed?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What will happen to the ecosystem if the population of predators is higher
than the population of prey?
__________________________________________________________________________

What Is It

It is mentioned in the previous lesson that biodiversity increases the

stability of the ecosystem. Specifically, species diversity significantly affects the
stability of communities. Communities with a diverse number of species maintain

11
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
the interaction among organisms. This balance among the species prevents a
specific kind of organism to be overpopulated and the other kind from being
endangered. The flow of energy in the ecosystem maintained, keeping it stable. For
example, if there is a specific species of prey to the predators in the ecosystem,
there is a competition in hunting the prey. The population of prey species depletes
while the population of predators increases. This is a threat to the balance in the
community. However, if the prey is highly varied for the predators, the predators
will have choices in hunting for food. Naturally, the predators will pursue species of
prey that are easy to find. Thus, the species of the prey will not be depleted and
continue to proliferate. This is the principle of least effort in which the organisms
have choices and do the easy way for survival.
Species diversity provides a more complex link of web interaction. This will
compensate for the loss of species during a disturbance which provides stability to
the entire ecosystem.

What’s More

The diagram shows the effects of dumping

sewage in the river. Use this diagram to
answer the questions that follow.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the disturbance indicated in
the diagram?
_____________________________________
2. What organisms grow and increase in
number when organic waste is
thrown in the river?
_____________________________________
3. What causes fish kill and migration of
fishes to another river?
_____________________________________
4. What causes the death of many bacteria?
___________________________________________________________________________
5. Is the river’s ecosystem stable? Provide evidence to your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

12
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 What I Have Learned
Answer the following questions.
1. What would happen to the stability of the ecosystem if there is low species
diversity? _______________________________________________________________
2. Give a scenario that shows an example of the principle of least effort.
_________________________________________________________________________
3. How is species diversity affected by the stability of ecosystems?
_________________________________________________________________________

What I Can Do
Determine the impact of the following human activities on ecological stability.
Human Activities Impact to Ecological Stability
(increase or decrease)
1. Illegal logging
2. Planting of native trees
3. Preserving wildlife
4. Dumping of garbage in the river
5. Gardening

Assessment
Complete the statements below.
1. An increase in the different species indicates an increase in the
__________________ (interaction; energy; prey) in the ecosystem.
2. Species diversity maintains the ____________________ (population number of
organisms; balance flow of energy; disturbance in ecosystem).
3. Species diversity has a ________________ (direct; inverse; equal) effect to
stability of the ecosystem.
4. The loss of species in the ecosystem can be compensated by the presence of
____________ (predators; prey; other species).
5. Stability in the ecosystem means ___________________ (balance; unstable;
suitable) interaction of organisms in the community.

13
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 Additional Activities
Make a poster about the impact of human activities on the stability of our
ecosystem. Use the following criteria to develop your output.

a. Content 40%
b. The uniqueness of the output 30%
c. Appropriateness of the images 20%
d. Neatness and color combination 10%

Read the statement carefully and encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Species diversity refers to the variety of species living together in a region.
Which is the BEST example of species diversity?
A. Different types of insects in a garden
B. Alamid, cheetah, and lion belong to the family of cats.
C. Fungi, plants, and animals interacting in an ecosystem
D. Moths and butterflies have similarities in their physical appearance.

2. Which is the effect of biodiversity on the survival of species in the ecosystem?

A. Disrupts disturbances
B. Proliferates predators
C. Lowers resiliency of organisms
D. Maintains the interactions of organisms

3. Which causes a decrease in the stability of the ecosystem?

A. Low biodiversity C. High Biodiversity
B. Low energy flow D. High energy flow
For items 4 and 5, consider the scenario below.

Ecosystem A Ecosystem B Ecosystem C

4. Which reflects high biodiversity?

14
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 5. Which ecosystem has high stability?

6. Which practice can increase the stability of our forest?

A. Plant different species of trees.
B. Introduce new species of trees.
C. Propagate the native trees.
D. Clear the weeds to grow more trees.

7. Kamagong, Narra, and Acacia are resilient to strong winds. What would be
the effect of resiliency on the forest?
A. Increases the stability of the forest C. Both A and B
B. Maintains the diversity D. Cannot be determined

8. Which is a threat to the balance of the ecosystem?

A. Growth of different species
B. Population of predators increases.
C. Organisms reproduce their kind.
D. Species of prey is greater in number than the species of predator.

9. Which is an example of disturbance in the ecosystem?

A. Algal bloom C. Growth of microorganisms
B. Strong wind D. Pouring of heavy rain

10. Organisms belonging to a species may demonstrate a unique trait. How can
this variation in traits within a species increase their adaptation in the
ecosystem?
A. Unique traits among organisms allow them to proliferate.
B. Predators will avoid the species with unique traits.
C. Organisms with desirable traits adapted and maintained the presence of
their species in the ecosystem.
D. Species with unique traits have a high percentage of proliferation rate
compared to the species with common traits.

Cambell, Neil A.. Biology. 4th Edition. United Kingdom: Benjamin-Cummings

Publication. 1996
Canama, Alma. n.d. Molecular Characterization for Determining Disease and Pest-
Resistant Native Corn [published abstract].UP-LB, Laguna
Forest Foundation Philippines. April 22, 2020. Philippine Forest Trees. Access from
www.FORESTFOUNDATION.PH

15
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
 DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE
City of Good Character
16
Lesson 2 Lesson 1
Lesson 3
What’s In What’s In
What’s In
1. Yes, this is an example of 1. Picture A: Birds, Squirrel, Grass,
1. Resistant stability because the genetic diversity because the Trees, Fish, Rabbit
Kamagong and Acacia can survive different colors, sizes, and Picture B: Giraffe, Grass, Tress
the typhoon. shapes are referring to variation 2. Picture is more diverse because it
What’s New in traits. has different organisms living
A. The ecosystem will lose its What’s New together in an area.
stability. A. Typhoon (answer may vary) 3. Diversity refers to the number of
B. No, the predators will not B. Plants and trees are different species in ecosystem.
survive. devastated. (Answer may vary)
C. The ecosystem is not C. Yes, because they may What’ New
balanced (lose its stability). continue to gain energy 1. BIODIVERSITY
What’s More from the ecosystem 2. ADAPTATION
1. Dumping of organic waste (answer may vary). 3. ENVIRONMENT
What’s More 4. SPECIES
2. Bacteria
1. Ecosystem B, because it has 5. ECOSYSTEM
3. The decrease of oxygen due to
many organisms. What’s More
bacterial growth 2. Resistant stability a. 2 varieties of ants
4. Scarcity of organic matter What I have learned b. Reproduction
5. No, because of fish kill and
1. Stability is the tendency of organisms c. Variety of Black ants
migration of some fishes to new What I have Learned
to maintain its richness and diversity
environment/ due to depletion of despite of disturbances. A. a. Genetic diversity
oxygen (answer may vary) refers to the variation in
What I Have Learned
2. Resistant stability- the tendency of
organisms to withstand the current genes to form unique
A. The stability of the disturbance traits.
ecosystem declines. Resilience stability- the capacity of b. Species Diversity refers to the
B. Example scenario: The frog organisms to return to natural condition variety of species living together in a
have different insects as despite of disturbance region.
prey like flies, mosquitoes, What I Can Do c. Ecological diversity refers to
moths, and dragonflies. A. Resistant Stability the merging of ecosystems due to
(Answers may vary) B. The stability of the forest the growing interaction among
C. If there is species diversity, declines because trees play an organisms.
the lose of one species can important role in the ecosystem B. Biodiversity increases
as home of native animals and the probability of
be compensated by the other
plants. (answers may vary) adaptation and survival
organisms in the
C. Illegal logging. (answer may of organism in changing
community. environment by
What I Can Do vary)
Assessment increasing the
differential success in
Impact to 1. Disturbance reproduction of offspring
Ecological Stability 2. Stability and interconnection
Human Activities 3. Resilience stability among organisms.
(increase or
decrease) 4. Type of community and nature (Answer may vary)
of disturbance Assessment
1. Illegal Decrease
5. Biodiversity 1. Biodiversity
logging
Additional Activities 2. Species Richness
2. Planting of Increase Advantages and Disadvantages of Planting 3. Genetic Diversity
native trees Trees in Marikina
4. Species Abundance
3. Preserving Increase
Advantages Disadvant 5. Ecological Diversity
wildlife ages Additional Activity
4. Dumping of Decrease 1. As a farmer, I will choose the
garbage in Increase the number of Seedlings species of native corn that is
organisms depending on are resistant to the infection of
the river
native trees like insects and expensive downy mildew because it will
5. Gardening Increase survive longer in the
birds.
ecosystem
Native trees are well adopted Space
Assessment to local climate, thus limitation
● Interaction increasing its survival rate. especially
● Balance flow of energy in
● Direct Marikina
● Other species
● Balance 2. Native trees help the forest to
recover its habitat for other
native species.
Answer Key
 Development Team of the Module

Writer: Josefina O. Manuel

Content Editors: Alma B. Castaño

Edna R. Francisco
Jessica S. Mateo

Language Editors: Lei B. Peñaflor

Merian A. Dizon
Illustrators: Aira Jaime B. Ocampo
Lian Joseph A. Domingo
Illustrator/
Layout Artists: Guiller P. Belen
Jemwel Dela Paz
Management Team:
Sheryll T. Gayola
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
OIC, Office of the Schools Division Superintendent

Elisa O. Cerveza
Chief, CID
OIC, Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

Jessica S. Mateo
EPS-Science

Ivy Coney A. Gamatero

EPS – LRMS

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division Office- Marikina City

Email Address: sdo.marikina@deped.gov.ph

191 Shoe Ave., Sta. Elena, Marikina City, 1800, Philippines

Telefax: (02) 682-2472 / 682-3989

17
City of Good Character
DISCIPLINE • GOOD TASTE • EXCELLENCE