MODULE 2

(BIODIVERSITY AND
THE ENVIRONMENT)

Lesson 1
Biological Diversity

Lesson 2
Roles of Species in its Ecosystem

Lesson 3
Human Population and the Environment

Lesson 4
Climate and Biodiversity

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MODULE II

BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT

 INTRODUCTION

This module presents the foundation of biological diversity, ecosystem and

sustainability. It also includes the relation of human population and other
species, urbanization, and the environment.

OBJECTIVES

After studying the module, you should be able to:

1. discuss the importance of biodiversity and factors affecting it.

2. describe the roles that a species may play in a particular
ecosystem
3. explain population dynamics and how it is related to the
environment.
4. determine human activities which disturb the overall functioning of an
ecosystem and the key factors affecting climate.

 DIRECTIONS/ MODULE ORGANIZER

There are four lessons in the module. Read each lesson carefully then
answer the exercises/activities to find out how much you have benefited from
it. Work on these exercises correctly and submit your output to your tutor or to
the CAS office.

In case you encounter difficulty, discuss this with your tutor during the
face-to-face meeting. If not contact your tutor at the CAS office.

Good luck and happy reading!!!

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Lesson 1
Biological Diversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is a vast range of living things; the plants, animals and other
organisms which contribute to the enhancement of natural ecosystems as well
as the health and stability of the world. All have an essential role to play. No
matter how minute or big an organism is, we depend on innumerable species
directly for basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine, breeding
stocks and future resources for everything. In other words, biodiversity ensures
natural sustainability and survival for all life on Earth.

It is virtually synonymous with "Life on earth".

Biologists most often define "biological diversity" or "biodiversity" as the

"totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region".

It includes deserts, rainforests, coral reefs, grasslands, tundra, and polar

ice caps.

IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is significant to the welfare of our planet. Most cultures, have

recognized the importance of conserving/preserving natural resources

A healthy biodiversity provides several essential services for everyone like the
following :

 Ecosystem services, such as

o Protection of water resources
o Soils formation and protection
o Nutrient storage and recycling
o Pollution breakdown and absorption
o Contribution to climate stability
o Maintenance of ecosystems
o Recovery from unpredictable events

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 Biological resources, such as

o Food
o Medicinal remedies and pharmaceutical drugs
o Wood products
o Ornamental plants
o Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
o Future resources
o Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems
 Social benefits, such as
o Research, education and monitoring
o Recreation and tourism
o Cultural values

FACTORS THAT AFFECTS BIODIVERSITY

Diversity of species varies significantly from place to place and

depends on several interrelated factors.

Factors are:

1. Overexploitation

Overexploitation – is harvesting species faster than population can

replenish themselves.
Overhunting, overfishing, overconsumption and over-harvesting
contribute significantly to environmental degradation and eventually the
reduction of biodiversity, killing off numerous species ,poaching and other
forms of hunting for profit increase the risk of extinction; the extinction of
an apex predator – or , a predator at the top of a food chain- can result in
catastrophic consequences for ecosystems.

2. Deforestation and habitat loss

Deforestation, the clearing or clear-cutting of forests loss is a direct

cause of loss and extinction of biodiversity. Million acres of forest are lost
due to logging, agriculture, mining and other human practices, destroying
the ecosystems on which many species depend.
Besides, habitat loss and fragmentation due to development,
urbanization, infrastructure and pollution has a massive impact on
biodiversity as human populations continue to increase.

3. Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants or harmful materials to

the environment which alters and destroys habitats and species in
numerous ways.
One major-source of pollution is industries dumping waste into large
bodies of water. Water and hazardous waste materials affect the

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environment. It impacts organisms by killing them, weakening them and

affecting their ability to function.
From dumping of billion pounds of plastic into the ocean to burning
of fossil fuels each year, pollution completely disrupts the worlds'
ecosystems.

4. Climate change

Changing climate regionally or globally have altered the ecosystem

and the species. For environment is a significant factor in the distribution of
species across the globe; climate forces them to migrate to places where
temperature are more conducive; however, many species cannot cope,
causing them to die. Rapid man-made climate change speed up the process
without affording ecosystems and species the time to adapt.

5. Invasive Species

Non- native or alien species are plants, animals or other organisms

transferred from one ecosystem to another, either intentionally or
unintentionally. They pose a threat to biodiversity when they possess
adaptations that help them out to dominate, compete, prey upon or
interbreed with native and domesticated species in their new ecosystem.

IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY

Preserving biodiversity is an extraordinary challenge that must be met by

greater understanding of biodiversity itself, changes in human behavior, beliefs
practices and various preservation strategies.

The reasons to maintain biodiversity are as follows –

1. Ecological Reasons:

Biodiversity is of vital importance to maintain the stability of our

ecosystems. Every species has a specific niche, a particular role and function in
the environment. Roles include producing organic material, capturing,
sequestering and storing energy, providing food, predation, decomposing
organic matter, cycling water and nutrients, controlling pests, preventing
erosion, regulating the climate, adding to soil fertility, pollination and for
plant growth. Removal of any species may significantly affect others, for most
species are interdependent upon each other for survival.

 Pollinators provide significant environmental and economic benefits to

natural ecosystems, including adding diversity producing our food and
plant-based industrial products. As many as one-third of

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the world's food production relies directly or indirectly on insect

pollination.
 Transpiration of plants contribute to the water cycle - provides water
for drinking and irrigation
 Rainforests contribute both to the process of soil formation and the
regulation of climate through photosynthesis – both producing oxygen
(O2) and absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2). Wetlands serve as sponge-like
reservoirs in dry weather and help in filtering and purifying water.
Mangrove swamps and coral reefs guard the land they surround by
reduction effects of erosion.
 Clean air: From old-growth forests to ocean phytoplankton, the oxygen
we breathe is generated by photosynthesizing members of ecosystems
around the world. Plants also absorb a variety of pollutants and toxicants
from the air, and sequestering the excess carbon dioxide emissions that
fuel climate change.
 Clean water: Forests help soil absorb more water, which can filter out
contaminants and refill aquifers.
 Healthy soil: Soil naturally bustles with lots of arthropods, bacteria and
other microorganisms, which are easy to overlook but provide a wide
range of benefits. They provide food for more massive creatures, help
nutrients cycle, boost nutrient availability to roots and enhance plant
health, among other things.

2) Conserving Biological Diversity in Agricultural Systems:

high agricultural productivity and human health alike depend on the

activity of a diverse natural biota. Food production relies on biodiversity for
food plants, pollination, pest control, nutrient provision, genetic diversity, and
disease prevention.

 Without the presence of natural enemies, crop losses by pests in

agriculture and forestry would become catastrophic and would escalate
costs enormously. Thus, excess use of pesticides will have an adverse
effects in the environment.
 Diverse groups of nitrogen fixing bacteria from the atmosphere are use
for crops and forests.

3) Health:

When more species are conserved there are more chances of discovering
something for medical use and possibility that could hold the answer to future
medical cures. When a species becomes extinct or its genetic diversity is lost,
we will never know whether research would have given us a new vaccine,
medicine or drug.

 Higher biodiversity has also been linked to lower instance of diseases,

with studies finding lower human rates of Lyme disease, malaria, acute
respiratory infection and diarrhea around protected natural areas.

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 Both medicinal plants and manufactured pharmaceuticals rely on

biodiversity. In developing new medicines, modern researchers are
looking more and more towards our natural biological resources. This
inspiration is especially prevalent in rain forests, biodiversity hotspots
that contain half of all known species. For example, the asthma drug
theophylline from cacao trees and about 70 percent of plants with
cancer-fighting properties occur only in rain forests.
 Many marine species use chemical-based, defense mechanisms, rich
source of new and economically essential medicines.

4) Economic Reasons:

 The higher the diversity in an ecosystem the greater the potential for
the manufacture of products in the future. Large scale habitat and
biodiversity losses mean that species with potential economic
importance may become extinct before they are even discovered.
 Areas rich in biodiversity provide a pleasing, attractive environment and
can promote tourism. Thus it becomes a source of income and provides
employment and ultimately contributes to economies.
 Biodiversity ecosystems supply us with a diversity of raw materials,
including wood, biofuels and plant oils that come from both wild and
cultivated species. Elements from different plants offer different
properties, such as harder or softer wood, or oils with varying smoke
points. The more diverse an ecosystem is, the more stable it is, the
more productive it tends to be, and the better it can withstand
environmental stress

5) Aesthetic reasons:

 Biodiversity and the protection of our ecosystems is also essential to us

all as individuals. Landscapes and species are beautiful and enrich the
lives of humans .We can all appreciate the beauty of biodiversity
whether we are looking at a rock-pooling, going for a walk in a wood or
sitting in a garden. Human beings like to live in a varied natural
environment with open spaces to walk and play in, trees for shade,
colorful flowers, clean water for swimming and paddling, birds and
animals.
o Natural world provides inspiration for people such as musicians
and writers. Our landscapes also reflect our history.
 Studies have shown that patients recover more rapidly from stress and
injury when supported by plants and a relatively natural environment.

In addition to showing respect for other living organisms on our planet, we

should care about biodiversity because it benefits humans in the following
ways:

 Genes: Wild animals and plants are sources of genes for hybridization,
modification and genetic engineering.

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 Biological control agents: Some species of living things help us control

invasive/alien species without the use of poisons.

 Food sources: Animals, plants, mushrooms, etc.

 Natural products: Many of the medicines, fertilizers, and pesticides we

use are derived from plants and animals. We also get products such as
oils, adhesives, and silk from natural sources.

 Environmental services: We rely on plants and animals for essential

processes such as soil aeration, fertilization, and pollination.

 Enjoyment: Biodiversity is often the subject of aesthetic interest.

 Scientific interest: The diversity of plants and animals inspires scientific

inquiry in many different realms. Evolutionary science, anatomy,
physiology, behaviour, and ecology are only a few examples.

 Self-perpetuation: Biologically diverse ecosystems help to preserve

their component species, reducing the need for future conservation
efforts targeting endangered species.

 Future potential for even more uses: With new discoveries to come,
there will be many more practical reasons to appreciate biodiversity!

ACTIVITY 1:

1. Discuss the role and the value of

biodiversity in your daily life.
2. What are other factors affecting biological
diversity?

References:

Adeel, Muhammad , "Biodiversity" M.Sc Botany, Roll # Bot.-14-38, Govt. Emerson

College, Multan

Web sources

https://www.globalissues.org/article/170/why-is-biodiversity-important-
who-cares

http://ete.cet.edu/gcc/?/biodiversity_importance/

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Lesson 2

 ROLES OF SPECIES
IN ITS ECOSYSTEM

Roles of Species in its Ecosystem

Evolution and biodiversity have made possible a wide scope of ecosystems

which is made up of different species that can survive in various climates,
places, surroundings and their adaptation to different kinds of human
interactions. Biodiversity plays a vital role in ecosystems and communities of
species interacting with one another.

Each species place an important role in its ecosystem. The distinct role a
species plays in its ecosystem is called as the ecological niche.

A niche consists of a species' way of life in a community. It includes

everything that affects its survival and reproduction, such as how much water
and sunlight it needs, how much space it requires, what it feeds on, what feeds
on it, the air pressure and temperatures it can tolerate.

Classification of species based on their niches.

A. Generalist Species

Generalists have broad niches. They can thrive in many different

places, eat a variety of foods and resources, and often tolerate wide range
of environmental conditions. Example of generalists are bobcat,
cockroaches, coyotes, flies, mice, raccoons, rats, white-tailed deer, and
humans.

B. Specialist Species

Specialists occupy narrow niches. They may be able to thrive in only

one type of habitat, use just few types of food or limited diet, can tolerate
a narrow range of climatic and other environmental conditions. For
example, Canada lynx, koala, some shorebirds occupy specialized niches,
feed on crustaceans, insects, or other organisms found on sandy beaches.

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Niches are classified in terms of the specific roles that they play.

1. Native species.

 Also called indigenous species.

 Species that normally live in a certain ecosystem.
 Example: koala

2. Non-native Species
 Are also called invasive, introduced, alien or exotic species. They were
brought either purposely or accidentally through human influence.
Although they are thought of as bad, they are not necessarily bad for the
environment.
 Example: microbes

C. Other Roles
a) Indicator Species
o Provide early warnings of damage to a community or ecosystem.
o Examples: Birds and Trout
b) Keystone Species
o Have a large effect on the types and abundances of other species.
o Examples: Top predators and pollinators
c) Foundation Species.
o Enhance their habitats to benefit other species.
o Examples: Beavers and elephants.

ACTIV ACTIVITY 2 :

Could humans be functional or sustainable to the artificial

ecosystems as they evolved naturally?

Reference:

https://prezi.com/ju4aa60n4886/4-6-what-roles-do-species-play-in- ecosystems/

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Lesson 3

 THE HUMAN POPULATION

AND THE ENVIRONMENT

POPULATION DYNAMICS

Population
- Entire group of individuals or inhabitants of the same species living and
interbreeding within a given area. Members of a population often
rely on the same resources, are subject to similar environmental
constraints, and depend on the availability of other members to persist
over time.
- An entire group of people, objects or things. A population can be
said as an aggregate observation of subjects grouped together by a
common feature or characteristics .

Population dynamics
- Is the branch of life sciences that pertains to the studies of short-
term and long-term changes in the size and age composition of
populations, and the biological and environmental processes
influencing those changes.

- A portion of ecology that deals with the variation in time and space of
population size and density for one or more species (Begon et al.)

- Refers to how the number of individuals in a population changes over

time. Biologists study the factors that affect population dynamics
because they are interested in topics such as conservation of endangered
species (for example, the Florida panther) and management of fish and
wildlife. Also, basic knowledge about the processes that affect
population dynamics can be used to predict future patterns of human
population growth.

- Branch of life sciences that studies the size and age composition of
populations as dynamical systems, and the biological and
environmental processes driving them (such as birth and death rates, and
by immigration and emigration).

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Earth's population is 7.8 billion as of June 2020 according to the most

recent United Nations estimates elaborated by Worldometer. In many ways,
this reflected good news for humanity: child mortality rates plummeted, life
expectancy increased, and people were on average healthier and better
nourished than at any time in history. However, during the same period,
changes in the global environment began to accelerate: pollution heightened,
resource depletion continued, and the threat of rising sea levels increased.
Does the simultaneous occurrence of population growth and environmental
decline over the past century indicate that more people translate into greater
environmental degradation?

In The Environmental Implications of Population Dynamics, Lori Hunter

synthesizes current knowledge about the influence of population dynamics on
the environment. Specifically, her report examines the following:

 The relationship between demographic factors — population size,

distribution, and composition — and environmental change.
 The mediating factors that influence this relationship: technological,
institutional, policy, and cultural forces.
 Two specific aspects of environmental change affected by population
dynamics: climate change and land-use change.
 Implications for policy and further research.

Hunter concludes that population dynamics have important environmental

implications but that the sheer size of population represents only one
important variable in this complex relationship. Other demographic dynamics,
including changes in population flows and densities, can also pose challenging
environmental problems.

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CARRYING CAPACITY

There are limits to the life-sustaining resources earth can provide us.
Every species has a carrying capacity and even humans.

It consists of two words Carrying and Capacity. Carrying means to support

or sustain. Capacity means the ability or the power to contain or producing the
maximum output. Thus, Carrying Capacity means the ability to sustain up to a
certain limit or scope.

It assesses the power of the Earth to sustain or support the maximum

number of species without causing any damage to the ecosystem. To achieve
the sustainable development, it is very important to assess the carrying
capacity.

Changes in population can have a variety of economic, ecological, personal

and social implications. One population concern is that of carrying capacity?
the number of individuals an ecosystem can support without having any
adverse effects. It also includes a limit of resources and pollution levels that
can be maintained without experiencing high levels of change. If carrying
capacity is exceeded, living organisms must adapt to new levels of consumption
or find alternative resources. Carrying capacity can be affected by the size of
the human population, consumption of resources, and the level of pollution and
environmental degradation that results. Carrying capacity can be expanded
through good management and the development of new resource-saving
technologies.

Thus we can say that carrying capacity and sustainable development are
closely related. Proper analysis of the carrying capacity of a place assists in
designing ways of maintaining proper ecological balance. It is a great factor
influencing the industrial, agricultural, tourism and biodiversity, and other
factors too.

PHILIPPINE POPULATION GROWTH

Philippines Population

 The current population of the Philippines is based on the

Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
 The Philippines 2020 population is estimated at 109,581,078 people at
mid-year, according to UN data.
 The Philippines population is equivalent to 1.41% of the total world
population.
 The Philippines ranks number 13 in the list of countries (and
dependencies) by population.
 The population density in the Philippines is 368 per Km2 (952 people per
mi2).
 The total land area is 298,170 Km2 (115,124 sq. miles)

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 47.5 % of the population is urban (52,008,603 people in 2020)

 The median age in the Philippines is 25.7 years.

Table 1.1 Population of the Philippines

The Philippines is also among the world's fastest urbanizing countries,

and overcrowded cities present their own challenges. With some 47 percent of
the population living in urban areas, the country has more than 200 urban areas
that have populations of more than 50,000, notes the country's
Commission on Population (POPCOM). By World Bank estimates, these urban
centers could expand to some 600 by 2020, largely because high levels of
rural poverty are pushing people into the cities.

Fast-paced population growth and rampant urbanization represent some of

the major population concerns in the Philippines, a country of 80 million
people where the average number of children born to a woman is close to four
and where a sizeable 37 percent of the population is under age 15.

These issues represent major stumbling blocks in efforts to reduce poverty

and improve living standards in the Philippines. It is roughly one- third of the
population (nearly 27 million Filipinos) lacked the required annual amount to
satisfy food and non-food basic needs, the National Statistical Coordination
Board (NSCB) estimates. Such poverty, exacerbated by prolonged El Niño-
induced drought and the residual effects of the financial crisis that shook the
region, limits the ability of the poor to gain access to health and other
services.

The concentration of economic development in relatively few urban areas

and rapid population growth throughout the country are other factors
contributing to urban sprawl. Compared with other countries in the region, the
Philippines is experiencing rapid population growth. The rate of natural
increase — the birth rate minus the death rate — is 2.2 percent, compared with
0.8 percent in Thailand and Singapore and 1.9 percent in Malaysia.

In addition to fleeing to urban commercial centers, many people leave the

country for work. An average of 2,500 Filipinos leave the country every

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day for work abroad, and the Philippines is second only to Mexico as an
exporter of labor. An estimated 10 percent of the country's population, or
nearly 8 million people, are overseas Filipino workers distributed in 182
countries, according to POPCOM. That is in addition to the estimated 3 million
migrants who work illegally abroad, according to official statistics of the
Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

URBANIZATION

What Is Urbanization?

As the world's population is escalating, a rising number of people are moving

from rural areas to more urban settings. This global phenomenon is called
urbanization — essentially increasing the population of rural areas (an area
with 2500 residents or fewer), and turning them into urban areas (a central
city, and surrounding areas, with a population exceeding 50,000 people). More
than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas and this shift

Positive Effects of Urbanization

Urban areas can create an overall better quality of life in several ways,
particularly for those coming from rural areas. They become a society of
culture that can facilitate financial and educational growth when areas become
cities and towns.

1. Employment Opportunities

- With industrialization comes the creation of jobs. Usually making a shift

from an agricultural economy, industrialization paves the way for
modern industries and will need more people to perform various
jobs. Rural jobs such as farming and mining may be labor-intensive (that
is if they have not been taken over by machines or automatic devices).
In contrast, urban employment opportunities — such as healthcare,
business, and education — will need a considerable amount of people
with a variety of skills to fill many jobs.

2. Modernization

- Modern technology provides for better city infrastructure. With

modernization, cities can adapt to cultural needs and provide support
systems for future development. Additionally, modernization can
make for a more sustainable city layout, with better housing/businesses,
market centers, and public transit systems. For example, in advanced
cities, mobile technology can assist large businesses in advanced
mobility hubs for vehicles — significantly reducing the amount of traffic
in growing cities.

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- The very presence of the Internet and a lot of technology can expand
communication to nearly any corner of the globe. They can efficiently
run utilities and lighting for a whole city. These are just a few
illustrations of how technology and modernization can provide efficient
solutions to many facets of life, facilitating a better standard of living.

3. Access

- Industrialization, coupled with modernization, brings an ample amount

of access for a city and the citizens within it. Accessibility to the
Internet, better healthcare, education, recreational activities,
social services, and more all improve livability. Additionally, modern
cities have the potential to better plan their city for sustainability and
boost their economy.

Problems of Urbanization

Urbanized cities as a result of a rapidly growing population are running

into major problems. As it stands today, urbanization has several major
drawbacks.

1) Congestion

- Many urbanized cities are starting to see an overcrowding issue, with so

many people going to rural areas. Overpopulation is contributing to
extreme traffic, the decreasing of resources, pollution, unemployment,
and many other issues.

2) Poverty

- Urban cities have seen a population explosion that can be hard to plan
for. As a result, employment opportunities may dry up quicker
than expected — leading to unemployment. Also, housing problems may
arise with the densely populated area and can lead to poor housing
conditions. These housing conditions are only exacerbated by
unemployment individuals. Unemployment and poor housing can create
an influx of crime in urban cities as well.

3) Environmental Hazards

- Water and sanitation issues are surfacing because of the rapid growth
of the population. With so many people needing resources
such as food, water, clothing, fuel, and waste management, the people
of urbanized cities are suffering from a lower quality of life due to
environmental reasons such as food and water scarcity, pollution, and
sanitation which leads to the spread of disease and poor health in
heavily populated areas.

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ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTS

The concept of an ecological footprint, more familiar as "carbon

footprint," attempts to estimate how much of the global resources
individuals use to sustain their lifestyles. As you might guess, the planet is
"overshooting' the supply of resources available to support human life on a
sustainable basis.

Human beings have an immense impact on the natural environment, and

ultimately on each other. The way we chose to house, clothe, shelter, and
meet the needs for vital resources such as food, energy, and water, not only
affect the long-term availability of those resources but well-functioning
Global systems such as climate systems, hydrological cycles, nutrient cycles
in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere, and the maintenance of a
diverse biosphere. But equally significant is the fact that some of our
personal and collective choices have an enormous impact on the way human
beings interact in cooperative and competitive modes, including the
increasingly global search for renewable and non-renewal resources and
global efforts to extract benefits from distant locations and in the process
limit the extent of environmental degradation.

Generally, the factors include GDP (Gross Domestic Product),

population, per capita GDP, industrial structure, energy consumption
structure, energy consumption intensity, carbon emission coefficients, and
so on.

The environmental impacts of modern cities go beyond their surrounding

regions. The size, rate, and connections of the modern metropolis show a
world impact. The ecological footprint is one measure of these effects. The
ecological footprint of cities is defined as the total amount of productive
land needed to maintain current activities and the removal of waste. The
ecological footprint of cities is hundreds of times larger than their actual
size and is also faced with problems such as acid rain, reduction of the
ozone layer, and global warming.

Developing countries

- In the cities of the developing world, where population growth is

outpacing the ability to provide the necessary infrastructure and
services, the most serious environmental problems are expected in the
immediate vicinity, with serious economic and social impacts on the
urban population. Inadequate water supply to households, the
accumulation of waste, and unhygienic conditions require large claims in
terms of unnecessary deaths and illness of one billion of the world
population who lives in slums. Cities in developing countries are also
faced with the worst urban air pollution in the world, which occurs as a
result of rapid industrialization and increased motorized traffic. It is
estimated that worldwide urban air pollution is the cause

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of one million premature deaths each year and costs 2% of the GDP in
developed countries and 5% in developing countries

Developed countries

- The urban population of developed countries, which is characterized by

some of the highest rates of per capita consumption in the world,
is largely responsible for the resulting trends. Similarly, the urban
population of the developed world produces six times more waste than
urban dwellers in developing countries. However,
developing countries are becoming richer and urbaner, and their levels
of consumption are close to those in developed countries. As a result,
they rapidly and significantly contribute to the global problem of
resource depletion and climate change. The need to change the cities
into more efficient and less polluted areas is, therefore, more necessary
than ever.
- While cities of developed countries have adopted policies and
technologies to improve many of their local environmental problems,
it is growing recognition that human activities in urban areas have
significant impacts at the global level. In fact, cities of the world
represent 75% of global energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse gas
emissions and a disproportionate share of resource use.
- There are many useful ways of measuring anthropogenic impact. We can
measure ecological footprints by an assessment of some share of
global resources that are needed to support a particular type of
lifestyle. We can measure specific things such as our individual carbon
footprint or individual water footprint. Or we can use broader impact
measures to better understand the collective impact of certain forms of
social organization, modes of production, or the alteration of the natural
landscape for the construction of population centers. Equally important
is the assessment of the numbers of people the resources of the Earth or
some specific locale can sustain.

How all these individual and collective decisions bear on human well-
being are equally important to how they bear on the environment.

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ACTIVITY 3:
1. How population dynamics, carrying capacity influence the
environment?
2. Is population a problem in the Philippines?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of
urbanization?
4. Why should I reduce my ecological footprint? How can I
reduce my ecological footprint?

 L E A R N I N G ACTIVITY

Measure your personal ecological footprint by using this link.

http://mrproulx.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/1/12816005/ecologic
al_footprint_worksheet.pdf

http://www.willisscience.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Eco
logical_Footprint_Calculator.190105128.pdf

References:

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › pmc › articles › PMC2442569

https://www.slideshare.net/jjcorrea121/population-dynamics-14966230

http://www.biologyreference.com/Ph-Po/Population-
Dynamics.html#ixzz6PgdtZ9DI

Hunter, Lori M. "Population and Environment, A Complex Relationship"

https://www.google.com/search?q=Laws+of+Carrying+Capacity&source=lmn
s&bih=654&biw=1366&client=firefox-b-d&hl=en-
US&ved=2ahUKEwiwv6Cqz4rqAhVFUpQKHczpDIoQ_AUoAHoECAEQAA

https://enviroliteracy.org/environment-society/population-
studies/carrying-capacity/

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/philippines-population/

https://www.prb.org/rapidpopulationgrowthcrowdedcitiespresentchallenge
sinthephilippines/

www.nationalgeographic.com › habitats › urban-threat

Module II
http://mrproulx.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/1/12816005/ecological_footpr
int_worksheet.pdf

http://www.willisscience.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/Ecological_F
ootprint_Calculator.190105128.pdf
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Lesson 4 

 Factors Influencing
Climate

Climate is the average of all weather conditions for a particular location

over many years.

Many different factors affect the climate around the world. It is the varying
influence of these factors that lead to different parts of the Earth experiencing
differing environments. The most important natural factors are:

1. Distance from the sea (Continentality)

The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are colder and wetter
than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cold
air from the sea. The center of continents is subject to a broad range of
temperatures. In the summer, temperatures can be scorching and dry as
moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the center of the
landmass.

2. Ocean currents
Ocean currents can increase or reduce temperatures. The diagram below
shows the ocean currents of the world.

3. The direction of prevailing winds

Winds that blow from the sea often bring rain to the coast and dry
weather to inland areas.

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4. The shape of the land ('relief')

Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than
low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground, it cools,
causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall.

The higher the place is above sea level, the colder it will be. This happens
because as altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and is less able to
absorb and retain heat. That is why you may see snow on the top of
mountains all year round.

5. Distance from the Equator

The distance from the Equator affects the climate of a place. At the poles,
energy from the sun reaches the Earth's surface at lower angles and passes
through a thicker layer of atmosphere than at the Equator. This means the
climate is colder further from the Equator. The poles also experience the
most significant difference between summer and winter day lengths: in the
summer, there is a period when the sun does not set at the poles;
conversely, the poles also experience a period of total darkness during
winter. In contrast, day length varies little at the Equator.

6. El Niño
El Niño, which affects wind and rainfall patterns, has been blamed for
droughts and floods in countries around the Pacific Rim. El Niño refers to
the irregular warming of surface water in the Pacific. The warmer water
pumps energy and moisture into the atmosphere, altering global wind and
rainfall patterns.

El Niño is Spanish for 'the Boy Child' because it comes about the time of the
celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. The cold counterpart to El
Niño is known as La Niña, Spanish for 'the girl child,' and it also brings with
it weather extremes.

7. Human influence
The factors above affect the climate naturally. However, we cannot
forget the influence of humans on our environment. Early on in human
history, our effect on the climate would have been quite small.
However, as populations increased and trees were cut down in large
numbers, our influence on the climate increased. Trees take in carbon
dioxide and produce oxygen. A reduction in trees will, therefore, have
increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

The Industrial Revolution, starting at the end of the 19th century, has had a
significant effect on climate. The invention of the motor engine and the
increased burning of fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon dioxide (a
greenhouse gas - more on that later) in the atmosphere. The number of trees
being cut down has also increased, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that
is taken up by forests.

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EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES TO VARIOUS ECOSYSTEMS

The ecosystem includes all living things (animals, plants, and microorganisms)
and non-living things (Earth, climate, soil, sun, weather, and atmosphere). All
these components make up the environment, and they are critical for the
natural and healthy functions of all the activities on the planet. In short, they
are the foundations of the ecosphere and influence the health of all the
systems on Earth. For example, ecosystems determine the niche played by each
and every organism and how they interact with non-living things such as water,
light, air, and climate. It's otherwise said to be an intricate and interconnected
system where living and non-living things function.

Due to this intricacy and interconnectedness, any activity that disturbs the
natural balance of these components affects the ecosystem. Anthropogenic
activities top the list as numerous human actions are affecting this balance.
This article outlines various social activities affecting an ecosystem.

Various Human Activities That Affect an Ecosystem

1. Agriculture
With the increasing number of the world's population, there is a similarly
high demand for sufficient food. The population growth rate is hence driving
the world to clear forests to create more space for agriculture.
 Destruction of wildlife: Forests are critical places as ecosystems
supporting the intricate relationship between the living and non-living
things; they have been adversely affected by agricultural practices.
 Global warming and climate change: Population growth-influenced
deforestation wherein three billion tons of CO2 released into the
atmosphere each year which is equivalent to the destruction of million
hectares of land annually. The rate of deforestation affects the
ecosystem by raising global temperatures and disrupting the cycle of
condensation and evaporation. Various ecosystems such as the Polar
regions are in turn affected by the rising global temperatures and
changing the atmospheric water cycle.
 Aquatic resources degradation: The injection of vast amounts of
sulfur, phosphorous and nitrogen nutrients into natural soils, lands and
water systems due to fertilizer use have created far-reaching effects,
altered ecosystems, and rapidly expanded aquatic dead zones

2. Plastic production
The invention of plastic has created the most problematic pollution ever
witnessed on the face of Earth. Plastic waste is everywhere on Earth even in
the oceans. Plastics remain in the environment for thousands of years and have
a long-lasting consequences on the fragile ecosystems and regulatory cycles.

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Presently, the world produces nearly million tons of plastics yearly and
about 20% to 40% of this winds up in the landfills with several million tons
finding way into the oceans, interrupting aquatic life.
The chemicals present in the plastics are released in the waters,
interfering marine life and changing their reproduction patterns. They can also
cause rapid cell division which may cause cancers. If plastics remain in the
oceans for thousands of years, they can ultimately reverse ecosystems and
some will even die after consuming unusually enormous amounts of plastics

3. Emission of Carbon Dioxide and other greenhouse gases

The emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases namely
methane(CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) are human
induced through combustion of fossil fuels and the use of man-made products.
The world has continued to depend on carbon-rich fossil fuels namely gas, oil
and coal just to generate energy.
Now, carbon dioxide levels are said to be surprisingly higher than ever in
history As a result, global temperatures becomes higher contributing to sea
level rise and extreme weather events like heat waves, flooding, tsunamis, and
droughts. The rising of the sea level and extreme weather events have in turn
altered ocean and land ecosystems, impacted food chains and
biodiversity, and intensified desertification.

4. Destruction of the reefs

Ocean reefs are the globe's most productive oceanic ecosystems supporting
marine life but because of human activities have led to their destruction by
upsetting the natural flow of nutrients and energy that support plant and
animal species in the marine world. Water pollution, climate change,
coastal development overfishing and
acidification of marine waters are the results of human activities that have
caused the destruction of coral reefs.
The reefs simply provide shelter and productive grounds for aquatic life.
Upon their degradation or destruction, they stop producing the essential
materials for a vibrant interconnectedness that is necessary for supporting
specific marine ecosystems. The result for this is that the destroyed coral reefs
are being dominated by jellyfish and bacteria, which limits the capacity for
sufficient regulation of energy and nutrients.

5. Production of Black carbon

Black carbon particles have been generated by human activities for
hundreds of years. Black carbon particles are materials emitted into the
atmosphere as smoke and are produced from cooking with biomass or biofuels
and firewood, diesel car exhausts, and the burning of trees. The presence of
these particulates in the atmosphere creates a heat-absorbing layer that gives
rise to increased global temperatures, thus compounding the global warming
effect.

People heavily dependent on diesel fuel, coal, and burning of wood, using
biomass or biofuel for heating and cooling are the biggest emitters of

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black carbon. Black carbon has also changed weather patterns and reduced
rainfall. It has also played a role in the melting of the glaciers in the polar
region, threatening ecosystems and water supplies for millions of people.

6. Draining streams/rivers and destruction of critical freshwater aquifer

recharge areas
Different anthropogenic activities have largely destroyed freshwater
supplies such as rivers, streams, and aquifers. Intensive agriculture is a leading
cause on account of the massive amounts of chemical fertilizers, insecticides,
pesticides, herbicides, and other agrochemicals that find way into waterways.

Intensive agriculture is also water intensive, thus over-drains rivers and

degrades critical freshwater aquifer recharge areas. The construction of man-
made dams and water-diversion for irrigation or during infrastructural
development has also made the natural flow of water in rivers and streams
inefficient. As such, these practices have gradually destroyed freshwater
recharge capabilities, increased salt intrusion, and changed local weather
patterns, in turn affecting local ecosystems such as forests, lakes, and
wetlands.

Increased salt concentration in lakes has made it difficult for some fish
species to survive. Furthermore, most of the world's lakes that supported a
wide range of diverse animal and plant species have shrunk by more than half
of their original sizes just because of over-draining rivers and the destruction of
freshwater aquifers.

7. Overhunting and overexploitation

Overhunting and overexploitation of natural resources through activities like
overfishing and mining have caused a reduction in the number of different
plant and animal species. In other words, the diverse existence of animal and
plant species in different habitats has been widely affected by overhunting and
overexploitation. These human activities do not give room for the
replenishment, growth, or new development of already exploited or harvested
products.
Overhunting can cause extinction, destroy natural reserves and breading
areas, and affects food chains. Therefore, whenever any living thing or native
species that play a part in an ecosystem is taken away in large quantities or
becomes extinct, the entire ecosystem suffers and can be permanently altered.
Also, when humans convert forests into farmlands or river basins into mining
areas, the areas are made harsh for the survival of animal and plant species.

8. Genetic modifications
The worlds' escalating demand for food products has prompted scientists to
resort to the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to increase crop
yields. GMOs also come with the advantage of being more tolerant of

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extreme temperatures, the ability to flourish with less water, and better
ability to resist parasites and diseases.

Thus, GMOs also comes with new biological elements that can impact natural
ecosystems in numerous ways as reported by different environmental groups.
One is changing the natural forms of competition or predation. Secondly, soil
microbial populations regulating the flow of phosphorous, nitrogen, and other
essential elements can equally be impacted. Thirdly, genetic materials can be
transferred to other native communities. All these GMO concerns can
irreversibly terminate life at some point – a chance of "total ecocide" as
reported by Global Research (Centre for Research on Globalization).

ACTIVITY 4!

1. How do human activities affect the ecosystem?

2. Discuss how does climate change affect species?

 L E A R N I N G ACTIVITY

Write an essay on this topic:

About The Positive Effects of Human Activities.

References:

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-human-activities-that-
affect-ecosystem.php

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2010), Global Biodiversity

Outlook 3, May, 2010, p.56

http://www.ecn.ac.uk/what-we-do/education/tutorials-weather-
climate/climate/factors-affecting-climate

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 MODULE SUMMARY

In module II, you have learned about the foundation of the environment its
relation to the human population, urbanization, and sustainability.

There are four lessons in module II.

Lesson 1. consists of the importance, factors affecting biodiversity

and the role of species in the ecosystem.
Lesson 2. deals roles that a species may play in a particular
ecosystem.
Lesson 3. population dynamics, carrying capacity and Philippine
growth population.
Lesson4. human activities which disturb the overall functioning of an
ecosystem, and the key factors are affecting climate.

Congratulations! You have just studied Module III. now you are ready to
evaluate how much you have benefited from your reading by answering the
summative test. Good Luck!!!

 SUMMATIVE TEST

1. Why is population dynamic in nature? What are the effects of

population growth in the Philippines?

2. Assess whether the advantages of urbanization outweigh its

disadvantages?

3. Are humans important to the ecosystem? How do we affect the

ecosystem?

4. How can we reduce the impact of climate change on biodiversity?

5. Distinguish generalist and specialist species.

6. Discuss the role of biodiversity in your life as a person.

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7. Why endangered animals and habitats should be protected? Why should

ecosystems be kept healthy, with every member of the ecosystem
protected?

8. Discuss the role of biodiversity in your life as a person.

Module II