Before we go further, please honestly write on the space below
your reactions or what you actually do or what you want to
happen on the following situations or scenarios.
When you see snake inside your house, classroom or
workplace.
I get scared and ask for help to kill or asses that situation.
When you see spiders building their webs inside your home.
For normal spiders, it’s not a big deal but if it’s a big
spider I automatically kill it .
When you see earthworm crawling in your bathroom floor
Since I hate earthworm I always kill it or throw it away.
Student Assessment Question/Activity 2-1
We have been trying to emphasize that all organisms are
important. You may wonder and ask how about organisms like
cockroaches, flies and mosquitoes? What are their functions?
How are they important like other organisms? Why don’t you
try to do some research or even do a firsthand observation to
really define their importance/functions. Write what you have
discovered on the space below or on a separate sheet of paper.
(Email your answer.)
All living organism in this has a function, we have different uses but
impostant assignment. Even when an insect is classified as a pest, it can
have a beneficial role. A fly in a house is a pest, but that same fly is
beneficial in its role as a detritivore. Termites are pests when invading
homes, but are beneficial when fulfilling their ecological role in a forest.
Accornding to Nature .com “Of all the insects in the world, only 1%
of insects are pests (Triplehorn & Johnson 2005) but they are
responsible for the loss of 13% of crops and 9% of forest production
(Pimental et al. 2000). The Balsam woolly adelgid, Adelges picease, has
destroyed nearly all of the Fraser firs (Abies fraseri) in the southern
Appalachian Mountains and is thought to be responsible for the loss of
two native bird species (Alsop & Laughlin 1991). Formosan
termites, Coptotermes formosanus, cause over $1 billion in structural
damage per year (Corn et al. 1999). Frequently, pest insects are
invasive species, such as the Balsam woolly adelgid and the Formosan
termite. Within their native ranges – Europe and southern China,
respectively – these insects are less likely to be pestiferous.”
Most insects are beneficial to humans either directly or indirectly.
Directly beneficial insects include pollinators and insect predators and
parasites of pests. Other insects provide humans with material goods
such as honey, silk , dyes and shellac Without insects, weed control
would be more difficult. Predator, parasite, and parasitoid insects provide
top-down management of herbivore populations. Indirect benefits from
insects may be more numerous and important than direct benefits.
Insects indirectly benefiting humans include all insect herbivores, prey,
predators, and detritivores because they are an integral part of the biotic
community of ecosystems (Triplehorn & Johnson 2005). A well-
functioning ecosystem provides services such as soil fertility, clean air,
and clean water. Termites, cockroaches, and other soil dwelling insects,
help to break down plant debris. Flies, beetles, and moths, help to
decompose dead animals. Dung beetles are critical for the
decomposition of animal feces. Insects are food for bats, birds,
amphibians, reptiles, fish and many mammals. Aquatic insects such as
mayflies and stoneflies are used to monitor the health of streams and
lakes
Student Assessment Question/Activity 2-2
Let us see how diverse organisms are around you. In your
backyard or on a nearby grassland, forest, mangrove area or
any ecosystem, try to observe the organisms present and draw
one simple food chain and a food web. Discuss your
observations. (Email your answer.)
Learning Assessment (Email your answer.)
Instructions: Please answer the following items. This will be part
of your performance evaluation. Each item is 10 points.
1. Which of the following explains the importance of each
organism in nature?
a. Ecological Niche c. food chain
b. Trophic level d. food web
Justify your answer: all of us have different tasks and
assignment. We are not the same we may look creepy and
dangerous but we have spaces to fill
2. Why is biological diversity important in the stability of
ecosystems?
a. Many species of organisms can perform one function in
nature.
b. There is variety of living organisms
c. There is more food for many organisms
d. Balance of nature is maintained.
Justify your answer: Without a wide range of animals, plants
and microorganisms, we cannot have the healthy ecosystems
that we rely on to provide us with the air we breathe and the
food we eat
3. Even mosquitoes and cockroaches are equally important as
other organisms in nature. What does this statement tell us?
a. They also perform an important function in the maintenance
of balance in nature.
b. They cause disease outbreaks
c. They are part of biological diversity
d. They are food to other organisms
Justify your answer: All living organism in this has a function, we have
different uses but impostant assignment. Even when an insect is
classified as a pest, it can have a beneficial role. A fly in a house is a
pest, but that same fly is beneficial in its role as a detritivore. Termites
are pests when invading homes, but are beneficial when fulfilling their
ecological role in a forest.
Feedback
Please include your feedback below. Let me know how you are doing so
far. Include your difficulties (if there are any) so we can address it on the
succeeding modules.
This module was all about importance, it talks about why we need
to play our role. We may be seen different by each other but in nature
our assignment is vital to keep the nature balance. There is no difficulty
in undertsanding the topic, it is comprehensive and the approach is very
useful for us students.
Module 2 Activity 2
BALLICUD JONSEL JURIS C.
BSME-2
ROLING A. OBLEOPAS
