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Biodiversity

What is biodiversity?
Why is it important to classify
organisms systematically?
How is biodiversity conserved?

Let’s understand:
Diversity of organisms
Classification of organisms

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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

Science Blog

SCIENCE BLOG
The Rafflesia in Malaysia
Malaysia is the habitat of the world’s largest
flower, the rafflesia (Rafflesia sp.). The rafflesia
is a parasitic plant that feeds on its host.
The rafflesia gives off a rotting smell when
in full bloom. This flower is also very unique
because it does not have any leaves to carry
out photosynthesis, nor does it have roots to
absorb water and nutrients from the soil.

Keywords
Biodiversity Reptile
Vertebrate Fish
Invertebrate Amphibian
Mammal Monocotyledon
Bird Dicotyledon

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 1.1 Diversity of Organisms

D id you know that our country, Malaysia, is one of the 12 megabiodiversity countries in the world?
The equatorial climate of Malaysia makes it a very ideal habitat for a variety of organisms. Can
you name the animals and plants shown in Photograph 1.1?

Diversity of
animals and
plants in
Malaysia

Photograph 1.1 Diversity of animals and plants in Malaysia

Science

What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity also covers

The diversity of organisms, whether microorganisms, animals or diversity at the genetic
level. Genetic diversity is the
plants, is known as biodiversity. Biodiversity exists as a result of diversity within a species,
the diversity of habitat and climate. Different organisms have based on variations in the
different characteristics which enable them to adapt and thrive genes of each microorganism,
animal or plant.
independently in their respective habitats (Photograph 1.2).

Desert Polar regions Soil Sea

Photograph 1.2 Diverse organisms in different habitats
4 1.1.1
 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

The Importance of Biodiversity Today

in History
Biodiversity is a priceless treasure and a legacy of nature which should The International Day
be preserved. Can you list down some of the importance of biodiversity for Biological Diversity is
based on Photograph 1.3? celebrated on the 22nd of
May every year.

Sources of food Balance in nature Recreational places

Animals and plants supply Cycle of nutrients, Areas that are rich in
food to humans. pollination and interaction biodiversity can be
between organisms create developed as recreational
balance in nature. places.

Medical Raw materials for industries Education

Herbs are widely used in the Timber, bamboo and rattan Humans increase knowledge
manufacture of medicines and are examples of forest products and create new technology
cosmetics. which are used to make through scientific research on
musical instruments, furniture microorganisms, animals and
and to build buildings. plants.

Photograph 1.3 Importance of biodiversity

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Effective Biodiversity Management
It cannot be denied that we need raw materials such as timber
for development. Nevertheless, deforestation activities need
to be controlled to preserve our biodiversity from extinction
(Photograph 1.4).
What methods can we use to maintain and conserve
biodiversity? Biodiversity can be maintained and conserved by: Photograph 1.4 Deforestation activities
cause animals to lose their habitat and
• banning the killing or trade of endemic and food sources
endangered animals and plants through the Science
Wildlife Protection Act 1972,
• protecting the habitat through creating national An endemic species is a species that
parks, marine parks, forest reserves and wildlife lives in clusters within a restricted
habitat in a specific location. Examples
sanctuaries, of endemic plants and animals in
• undertaking reproductive programmes such as Malaysia include the rafflesia, pitcher
plant (Nepenthes rajah), leatherback
seedling nurseries to help with reforestation and turtle, Malayan tiger and the Borneo
turtle hatcheries. Pygmy elephant.

Science
A ctivity 1.1
The methods of biodiversity
Aim: To conduct a discussion on effective biodiversity conservation can be classified as
management. in situ conservation and ex situ
conservation. In situ conservation,
Instruction preserves the species within
1. Work in groups. their natural habitat such as in
2. Find information on: national parks, permanent forest
(a) factors that cause the extinction of animals and plants reserves and marine parks. Ex situ
conservation, on the other hand,
(b) ways to preserve and conserve animals and plants preserves the species outside of
including endemic and endangered species their natural habitat such as in zoos
3. Present your group findings in class. and botanical parks.

Biodiversity
http://www.nre.gov.my

1.1
Info
Formative Practice
1. What is biodiversity?
2. How does biodiversity contribute to the economy?
3. What is an endemic species? Give two ways to preserve and conserve endemic species.
4. Give examples of endangered species in Malaysia.

6 1.1.2
 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

1.2 Classif ication of Organisms

T he two main groups of organisms are animals and plants.

Animals and plants can be classified further into smaller
groups based on their common and different characteristics.
Study Photograph 1.5. What are the similarities and differences
between the two animals?

Photograph 1.5
Classification of Animals
Animals can be classified as invertebrates and vertebrates. Can you state the differences between
these two groups of animals?

Invertebrates
Invertebrates are animals without a backbone. Figure 1.1 shows the classification of invertebrates.

Invertebrates

Without legs With legs

Without segmented With segmented Three pairs of More than three pairs
body body legs of legs
Figure 1.1 Classification of invertebrates
Science

Segmented body is the

Invertebrates Without Legs
division of an animal's body
into several segments.
1 Without segmented body
• There are invertebrates without legs and without segmented bodies.

Sponge Sea anemone Corals Planaria Snail

Photograph 1.6 Invertebrates without legs and without segmented bodies

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 2 With segmented body
• Some invertebrates without legs have segmented bodies.

Tapeworm

Segment
Earthworm Leech
Photograph 1.7 Invertebrates without legs with segmented bodies

Science

Invertebrates With Legs

Insects are the largest group
of animals. There are
Characteristics of invertebrates with legs:
950 000 species of insects.
• have segmented bodies
• have hard outer shells (exoskeleton)

1 Three pairs of legs

Ant Butterfly Cockroach

Photograph 1.8 Invertebrates with three pairs of legs

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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

2 More than three pairs of legs

Spider Horseshoe crab

Prawn Centipede Scorpion

Photograph 1.9 Invertebrates with more than three pairs of legs

Vertebrates
Vertebrates are animals with a backbone (Figure 1.2).

Vertebrates

Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals

Figure 1.2 Classification of vertebrates Science

Fish
A poikilotherm is an
Fish are animals with the following common characteristics: organism that has a body
temperature that changes
• poikilothermic according to its surrounding
• covered in hard and slimy scales temperature. A homeotherm,
• have fins and a tail on the other hand, is
an animal with a body
• breathe through gills temperature that is constant
• lay eggs and free from the influence of
• undergo external fertilisation its surrounding temperature.

Grouper

Clown fish

Eel

Photograph 1.10 Examples of fish

1.2.2 9
Amphibians
Amphibians are animals with the following common characteristics:
• poikilothermic
• live on land and in water Salamander
• covered with moist skin
• young amphibians breathe through gills
• adult amphibians breathe using their lungs and moist skin
• produce jelly-like eggs (spawn) without a shell
• undergo external fertilisation

Toad

Frog Frog spawn Tadpole

Photograph 1.11 Examples of amphibians

Reptiles
Reptiles are animals with the following common characteristics:
• poikilothermic
• produce eggs with a shell
• breathe through lungs
• have scales and hard skin
• undergo internal fertilisation

Iguana

Turtle Snake Crocodile

Photograph 1.12 Examples of reptiles
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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

Science
Birds
Birds are animals with the following common characteristics: The rhinoceros
• homeothermic hornbill is a protected
• covered with feathers to maintain body temperature animal in Malaysia. It
• breathe through lungs is the state bird of
Sarawak.
• have wings that help some birds to fly
• have a pair of scaly feet
• undergo internal fertilisation
• produce eggs with hard shell

SCAN
IMAGE
Let's play
Owl

My Malaysia!
Malaysia is a habitat for nearly
742 species of birds. At least
Kingfisher
522 species are local species,
192 are migratory species
and 52 are local species with
migratory characteristics.

Duck
Photograph 1.13 Examples of birds

Mammals Brain Teaser

Mammals are animals with the following What is the difference
between fur and hair?
common characteristics:
• homeothermic
• covered with fur or hair
• breathe through lungs
• undergo internal fertilisation
• give birth and nurse their young

Bat
Giraffe
Elephant

Photograph 1.14 Examples of mammals Lion

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Classification of Plants
Plants are classified as non-flowering and flowering plants.

Plants

Non-flowering plants Flowering plants

Science

Non-vascular plants are

simple and small plants
without a vascular system.
Figure 1.3 Classification of plants Vascular plants have a
vascular system within them
that transport water and food
Non-flowering Plants throughout the plant. These
Non-flowering plants consist of moss, fern and conifer. What are plants also have true roots,
stems and leaves.
the common characteristics of each of these groups of plants?

Non-Flowering Plants

Moss Fern Conifer

• Reproduce by • Reproduce by • Reproduce by bearing

producing spores producing spores cones
• Non-vascular • Vascular • Vascular

Figure 1.4 Classification of non-flowering plants

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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

Flowering Plants
Flowering plants produce flowers which become fruits that contain seeds. Each seed has a cotyledon,
which is stored food that is used by the seed to germinate. A seed which has one cotyledon is called a
monocotyledon. A seed with a pair of cotyledons is called a dicotyledon (Figure 1.5).

Paddy plant Orchid plant Lotus plant Sunflower plant

Photograph 1.15 Examples of flowering plants

Differences
Monocotyledons Dicotyledons

One Number of cotyledons Two

Fibrous root Root Tap root

Leaves with parallel veins Leaf Leaves with network-like veins
Most have non-woody stem Stem Woody stem
Paddy and maize plants Example Tomato plant and durian tree

Network-like Tap root

Parallel veins veins
Fibrous
root
Figure 1.5 Differences between monocotyledons and dicotyledons

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 A ctivity 1.2
Aim: To identify the characteristics which differentiate major taxonomy groups.
Instruction
1. Work in groups.
2. Identify the differences between
(a) plants, animals and fungi
(b) fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
3. Present the results using a multimedia presentation.

Constructing a Dichotomous Key

A dichotomous key is a method used by biologists to identify and classify organisms systematically
based on similarities and differences. It is constructed of a series of couplets. Each couplet consist of
two statements describing characteristics of a particular organism or group of organisms. Let’s look
at the example of a dichotomous key for animals (Figure 1.6) and plants (Figure 1.7).

Pomfret Chicken Lion Frog Snake

Dichotomous key

1. (a) Poikilothermic ............................................................................... go to 2

(b) Homeothermic ............................................................................. go to 3
2. (a) Scaly skin .................................................................................... go to 4
(b) Non-scaly skin ............................................................................. Frog
3. (a) Non-feathered ............................................................................. Lion
(b) Feathered ................................................................................... Chicken
4. (a) Does not have fins ...................................................................... Snake
(b) Has fins ....................................................................................... Pomfret

Figure 1.6 Example of a dichotomous key for animals

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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

Maize plant Marchantia sp. Fern Gnetum sp. Sunflower plant

Dichotomous key

1. (a) Non-flowering ............................................................................ go to 2

(b) Flowering .................................................................................. go to 3
2. (a) Non-vascular ............................................................................. Marchantia sp.
(b) Vascular .................................................................................... go to 4
3. (a) Monocotyledon .......................................................................... Maize plant
(b) Dicotyledon ................................................................................ Sunflower plant
4. (a) Does not produce seeds ............................................................ Fern
(b) Produce seeds ........................................................................... Gnetum sp.

Figure 1.7 Example of a dichotomous key for plants

A ctivity 1.3
Aim: To construct a dichotomous key.
Instruction
1. Work in groups.
2. List down as many invertebrates found in your school compound.
3. Construct a dichotomous key for the invertebrates.
4. Present your group findings in class.

Formative Practice 1.2

1. Classify the following animals according to their common characteristics.

2. The sunflower plant and paddy plant are flowering plants. State one similarity and three differences
between the two plants.
3. Give two differences between monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants.

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16
Summary Biodiversity

using Dichotomous
Meaning Management Classification
key

Importance
Effects of Ways of preserving
Animals Plants
human activities and conserving
Food source on biodiversity biodiversity

Balance in nature

Recreational place Non-Flowering Flowering

Invertebrates Vertebrates
Medicine Monocotyledon

Raw material
Moss Fern Conifer
Education Without legs With legs Dicotyledon

Fish Reptiles Mammals

Amphibians Birds

Three pairs of More than three

legs pairs of legs
Interactive Quiz 1
Without With segmented Quiz
segmented body body
 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

SELF-REFLECTION
After learning this chapter, you are able to:
1.1 Diversity of Organisms
Elaborate and communicate on biodiversity.
Justify the needs of effective biodiversity management.
1.2 Classification of Organisms
Differentiate organisms using a dichotomous key based on common characteristics.
Characterise the major taxonomy groups.

Summative Practice 1
1. Complete the crossword puzzle below with the correct answers.
(e)

(c) T
L
(d)
(a) I I T

(f)
(b)

G E

Across Down
(a) The diversity of organisms whether (d) are animals which have
animals, plants or microorganisms is backbones.
known as . (e) Fish breathe through .
(b) Amphibians are or (f ) An is an example of a
cold-blooded. reptile.
(c) A key is used by
biologists to identify and classify
organisms systematically.

17
2. Tick (3) the true statement and cross (✗) the false statement.
(a) Biodiversity is the diversity of living and non-living organisms.

(b) Biodiversity is very important for the continuity of human’s existence.

(c) Apart from classifying living things, a dichotomous key can also be used
to classify non-living things.

3. Liana and some of her friends collected the following five types of animals when they
conducted a sampling activity in a forest.

Three pairs of Three pairs of Three pairs of Four pairs of More than four pairs of
legs legs legs legs legs
P Q R S T

(a) Complete the following dichotomous key based on the physical characteristics of the
animals collected by them.

Five animals: P, Q, R, S, T

Three pairs of (iv)

legs

(i) (v)
With wings Body with two
segments

Ant (ii) Thin and fragile Spider Centipede

(P) wings (S) (T)

(iii)
Ladybird
(R)

(b) What are the similarities between animals P, Q, R, S and T ?

(c) What are the differences between animals P, S and T ?

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 Chapter 1 : Biodiversity

4. Observe Figure 1.
(a) Suggest two characteristics that can be used
to classify plants.

(b) Give three similarities between plant A and

plant B.

Plant A Plant B
Figure 1

5. Sik Mei observed similarities between the three animals in Photograph 1. Sik Mei thinks that the
three animals are in the same group. Is Sik Mei correct? Give your reasons.

Scorpion Jellyfish Crab

Photograph 1

6. List the differences between the animals in Photograph 2. Construct a dichotomous key to
identify the animals.

Planaria Butterfly Earthworm

Photograph 2

HOTS Mastery 1
7. Deforestation is a huge threat on a global level. Nevertheless, it contributes to the development
of a nation. Justify the needs for deforestation.

8. Photograph 3 shows a leatherback turtle, an endemic animal.

Hunting this animal has serious consequences. Justify.

Photograph 3

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