Q1L4 GENSCI_Philippine Ecosystems

Ecosystem

• A geographic area where a

  community of living organisms

  interacts with each other and with

  their physical environment.

• It includes both biotic (living) factors

  and abiotic (nonliving) factors.

• Terrestrial and aquatic

a complex web of relationships that sustain life.

What do the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors form?

Ph ecosystem components

• forests

• Coral reefs

• Grasslands

• Freshwater

Forest ecosystem

• Philippine forests are incredibly biodiverse,

boasting a wide array of unique flora and fauna.

• High humidity and temperature, and a large

amount of rainfall.

Tropical climate

what allows the Philippines forests to receive, absorb, and redistribute rainwater to support life.

Sierra Madre mountain range

• Contains around 49% of the country’s remaining forest cover

• the backbone of Luzon

• shields Central Luzon from strong typhoons

• Philippine eagle

• Philippine mouse deer

Species of the PH in forests

• cordillera mountain ranges

• Zambales

• Sierra Madre mountain range

• Mt. Makiling

• Mt. Banahaw

Where are most forests in the Ph found

Grassland

• a terrestrial ecosystem dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, with limited tree or shrub cover.

• Flora and fauna include grasses, cogon, wildflowers, rats, insects, snakes, and birds.

-Imperata cylindrica (Cogon Grass)

• Mt. Pulag grassland

• Lantawan Grassland in Zamboanga

Grassland examples

Generally experience moderate rainfall, but not enough to support forests.

What is the frequency of rainfall in grasslands

• Overgrazing

• Forest conversion

• Grassland fires

Factors threatening grasslands

can lead to soil erosion in grasslands, decrease in biodiversity

What are the effects of farmers burning Cogon grass?

Freshwater

Freshwater ecosystems include lakes, rivers, swamps, and estuaries (mangroves).

• Habitat for aquatic organisms (freshwater fish

  and shellfish).

Lakes

Large body of water surrounded by land

Rivers

A long body of water that flows toward the sea

Swamps

Low-lying areas of land that are permanently saturated with water

Estuaries

Areas where freshwater rivers meet the Salty ocean, creating a brackish water environment

• Laguna de Bay

• Tall lake

• Cagayan river

• Candaba swamp

Ph freshwater examples

Laguna de Bay

Ph largest lake

Cagayan river

Longest and largest ph river

Sardinella tawilis

A freshwater sardine found only in the Ph, only freshwater sardine found in the world

• found in the Taal lake

• Illegal fishing

• industrial/factory wastes

• household waste

Factors threatening freshwater

Coral reefs

natural habitat of fish species and other marine organisms.

• Because of such a long process, coral reefs are considered very delicate ecosystems.

• Provides food, protects shorelines, attracts tourism

Owning 5% of the world’s total 617,000 sq km of coral reefs

Why is the Ph part of the world’s “Coral Triangle”

Composed of massive deposits of calcium carbonate that takes centuries to produce and develop.

Composition of coral reefs

• Verde island passage in Batangas

• Tubbataha reef in Sulu Sea.

Coral reefs in ph examples

Verde island passage

• “Center of the Center of Marine Shorefish Biodiversity”

Tubbataha Reef

• UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Serves as a nesting ground for the critically endangered sea turtle

Hakwsbill Sea Turtle

Endangered sea turtle in Tubbataha Reef

Coral bleaching

Happens when sea temperatures rise, corals die

• fishes or other aquatic organisms will reduce

• affects fishing livelihoods

What are the effects of coral bleaching to the ecosystem

Climate change

• long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

• While there are natural causes, human activities have been the main driver of climate change

• burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas (Greenhouse gas emissions)

  • the Ozone layer has a hole, heightening temp. etc.

Causes of climate change

Burning fossil fuels

Generates greenhouse gas emissions

Greenhouse gas Emissions

act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

• Ecosystem disruption

• increased strong typhoons

• rising sea levels

Effects of Climate change to PH

• Transportation

• Factorial and industrial processes

• Agriculture and land

Greenhouse gas sources

1. Rising global temp

2. Ice sheets and glaciers are shrinking; snow cover is decreasing

3. Sea level is Rising

4. Extreme Weather events

5. Ocean warming and acidification

Climate change warning signs - already occuring now

The Philippines is vulnerable to climate change. It has accelerating environmental deterioration, unsustainable development practices, and population growth.

The PH and climate change

Forest impacts

• change in forest composition

• Shift geographic range of forests

Species & Natural Areas

• shift on ecological zones

• Loss of habitat & species

• Changing temperatures disrupt species’ life cycles

• Droughts and forest impact food webs

• Pollinators at risk

Effects of climate change in the Ph

• Ocean warming and acidification

• Sea level rise destroys coastal habitats

Climate change to Ph marine ecosystem

• Oceans absorb over 90% of excess heat, leading to coral bleaching.

• Higher CO₂ levels make oceans more acidic, harming marine life.

• w/o coral, the predator-prey balance is disturbed, leading to population declines or overgrowth of other species

Ocean warming and acidification

Loss of one habitat affects multiple species connected to it, including humans who rely on them for food and livelihood

Sea level rise destroys coastal habitats

The Philippines’ National Climate Change Action Plan (PNCCAP)

Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies in Ph

No, it is an environmental, social, and economic issue prevalent in the Philippines. 

• ex. Flood control supposedly used to mitigate floods and climate change effects end up to be corrupt

Is climate change just an environmental issue?

Adaptation

• actions that Help cope with climate change effects (People, species, ecosystems)

• Responses or measures

  • that directly confront climate change impacts (flood control w/ climate change)

  • That build resilience to current and future climate risks (I.e. Introduce climate-resilient Rice varieties)

Adaptation examples

• flood control w/ climate change

• Introduce climate-resilient Rice varieties

Along coastlines in order to;

• protect from typhoon, tidal waves, tsunamis

Where do we plant Mangroves

Mitigation

• actions that will reduce man-made climate change

• This includes action to reduce GHGs or absorb GHGs in the atmosphere.

• human intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of GHGs.

• solving the cause!

• constructing bike lanes (sustainable transportation) and green buildings

Reducing GHG emissions

• Increasing GHG sequestration through reforestation.

• reducing fossil fuel use and promoting green energy

Increasing GHG sequestration

The Philippine National Climate Change Action Plan (PNCCAP)

• the country’s strategic framework for addressing climate change impacts and strengthening resilience and sustainability across sectors.

It serves as the official policy guide for the government's climate change programs from 2011 to 2028, aligned with the Climate Change Act of 2009 (RA 9729).

PNCCAP legal basis

• ecological and environmental stability

• Increasing natural ecosystem resilience to climate change

PNCCAP priorities

PNCCAP Flow