Science (chapter 1)

• Biodiversity


  • Ensures a healthy environment
  • Provides a legacy for future generations
  • Provides raw materials for industries
  • Provides areas for education and recreation
  • Provides medicines and other products
• Biodiversity


  The diversity of organisms, whether microorganisms, animals or plants
• Biodiversity


  • Exists as a result of the diversity of habitat and climate
  • Different organisms have different characteristics which enable them to adapt and thrive independently in their respective habitats
• The equatorial climate of Malaysia makes it a very ideal habitat for a variety of organisms
• Importance of biodiversity


  • Sources of food
  • Balance in nature
  • Recreational places
  • Medical
  • Raw materials for industries
  • Education
• Animals and plants supply food to humans
• Cycle of nutrients, pollination and interaction between organisms create balance in nature
• Areas that are rich in biodiversity can be developed as recreational places
• Herbs are widely used in the manufacture of medicines and cosmetics
• Timber, bamboo and rattan are examples of forest products which are used to make musical instruments, furniture and to build buildings
• Humans increase knowledge and create new technology through scientific research on microorganisms, animals and plants
• We need raw materials such as timber for development
• Methods to maintain and conserve biodiversity


  • Banning the killing or trade of endemic and endangered animals and plants through the Wildlife Protection Act 1972
  • Protecting the habitat through creating national parks, marine parks, forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries
  • Undertaking reproductive programmes such as seedling nurseries to help with reforestation and turtle hatcheries
• An endemic species is a species that lives in clusters within a restricted habitat in a specific location
• Examples of endemic plants and animals in Malaysia


  • Rafflesia
  • Pitcher plant (Nepenthes rajah)
  • Leatherback turtle
  • Malayan tiger
  • Borneo Pygmy elephant
• In situ conservation


  Preserves the species within their natural habitat such as in national parks, permanent forest reserves and marine parks
• Ex situ conservation


  Preserves the species outside of their natural habitat such as in zoos and botanical parks