1.1 DIVERSITY OF ORGANISMS

SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

CHAPTER 1
BIODIVERSITY

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

1.1 Diversity of Organisms TP1

Malaysia is one of the 12 _________________ countries in the world. The equatorial climate of

Malaysia makes it a very ____________ habitat for a variety of organisms.

What is Biodiversity? TP1
The diversity of organisms, whether microorganisms, animals or plants, is known as ___________.
Biodiversity exists as a result of the diversity of ___________ and ____________.
Different organisms have different characteristics which enable them to ________ and _______
independently in their respective habitats.

The Importance of Biodiversity TP2
Biodiversity is a priceless treasure and a legacy of nature which should be preserved.

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

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

Effective Biodiversity Management TP1
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

Biodiversity can be maintained and conserved by:
• _____________ the killing or trade of endemic and endangered animals and plants through the
Wildlife Protection Act 1972,
• _____________ the habitat through creating national parks, marine parks, forest reserves and
wildlife sanctuaries,
• _____________ reproductive programmes such as seedling nurseries to help with reforestation
and turtle hatcheries.

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

Formative Practice 1.1
1. What is biodiversity? [1m] TP1

2. How does biodiversity contribute to the economy? [2m] TP2

3. What is an endemic species? Give 2 ways to preserve and conserve endemic species. [3m] TP3

4. Give examples of endangered species in Malaysia. [2m] TP1

5. Tick (√) for the correct statement and (X) for the wrong statement. [5m] TP2

Statement √/X

a) Biodiversity exists because of different habitats and weather.

b) Human activity contributes to the existence of biodiversity in a country.

c) Biodiversity is defined as the variety of living things and non-living things on

Earth, which includes animals, plants and other elements.

d) Malaysia is one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries and the position should

be maintained.

e) Different organisms have different characteristics to adapt and live in their

respective habitats.

6. Circle the human activities that threaten biodiversity. [2m] TP1

Forest reserve Deforestation Illegal logging Recycling

7. Diagram below show the human activities that will damage biodiversity if uncontrolled.

Activity P Activity Q
a) Name the activity P and Q. [2m] TP2

b) What are the negative effects of these activities on biodiversity? [2m] TP2

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

1.2 Classification of Organisms TP1

The two main groups of organisms are ___________ and __________.

Animals and plants can be classified further into smaller groups based on their ___________ and

_____________ characteristics.

Classification of Animals TP1
Animals can be classified as ________________ and __________________.

Invertebrates TP1
Invertebrates are animals without a ______________.

Vertebrates TP1
Vertebrates are animals with a _______________.

Classification of Vertebrates TP2

Fish • Poikilothermic.

• Covered in hard and _______ scales.

• Have ________ and a tail.

• Breathe through _________.

• Lay _______. Eel Clown Fish
• Undergo _____________ fertilisation.
Salamander
Amphibians • Poikilothermic. Iguana

• Live on ________ and in __________.

• Covered with _________ skin.

• Young amphibians breathe through __________.

• Adult amphibians breathe using their lungs and moist skin.

• Produce jelly-like eggs (spawn) without a _________.

• Undergo ______________ fertilisation.

Reptiles • Poikilothermic.

• Produce eggs with a _________.

• Breathe through _________.

• Have scales and ________ skin.

• Undergo ___________ fertilisation.

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

Birds • Homeothermic.

• Covered with _____________ to maintain body temperature.

• Breathe through __________.

• Have __________ that help some birds to fly.

• Have a pair of _________ feet.

• Undergo ____________ fertilisation. Owl
• Produce eggs with ___________ shell.

Mammals • Homeothermic.

• Covered with ________ or hair.

• Breathe through __________. Bat
• Undergo ____________ fertilisation.

• Give _________ and nurse their young.

Classification of Plants TP1
Plants are classified as ______________ and ______________ plants.

Non-flowering Plants TP1
Non-flowering plants consist of moss, fern and conifer.

Moss Fern Conifer

• Reproduce by producing • Reproduce by producing • Reproduce by bearing
_________. ___________. ___________.
• Non-vascular. • Vascular. • Vascular.

Flowering Plants TP1
Flowering plants produce flowers which become ____________ that contain seeds.
Each seed has a cotyledon, which is stored ___________ that is used by the seed to germinate.
A seed which has one cotyledon is called a _________________ while a seed with a pair of
cotyledons is called a ___________________.

Sunflower Paddy Plant Maize Plant Gnetum Rye

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

Differences between Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons TP2 Dicotyledons

Monocotyledons Differences
Number of
Cotyledons

Root

Leaf

Stem

Examples

Constructing a Dichotomous Key TP1
A dichotomous key is a method used by biologists to ___________ and _____________
organisms systematically based on similarities and differences.
It is constructed of a series of ___________.
Each couplet consist of two statements describing _________________ of a particular organism
or group of organisms.

Study the dichotomous key below and identify organisms A, B, C, D and E. TP3 2
1. a) Able to produce own food.............................................................................................................. 4
A
b) Not able to produce own food...................................................................................................... 3
2. a) Flowering........................................................................................................................................... B
C
b) Non-flowering.................................................................................................................................. 5
3. a) Vascular............................................................................................................................................. D
E
b) Non-vascular.................................................................................................................................... F
4. a) Has backbone...................................................................................................................................

b) Does not have backbone................................................................................................................
5. a) Has feather......................................................................................................................................

b) Has fur or hair.................................................................................................................................

Ant Fern Moss Hibiscus Pigeon Cat

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

Formative Practice 1.2

1. Classify the following animals according to their common characteristics. [5m] TP3

Tortoise, Crocodile, Eel, Orang utan, Dolphin, Platypus, Penguin, Frog, Duck, Toad

2. The sunflower plant and paddy plant are flowering plants. State one similarity and three
differences between the two plants. [3m] TP4

3. Give two differences between monocotyledon and dicotyledon plants. [2m] TP2

4. Tick (√) the characteristics of each flowering plant below. [8m] TP2

Characteristics Maize Plant Rambutan Plant

Number of cotyledon One
Two

Type of leaf vein Network veins
Parellel veins

Type of stem Woody stem
Non-woody stem

Type of root Fibrous roots
Tap roots

5. Dolphins are aquatic animals that live in the ocean while bats are small animals that are able to
fly.
While classifying vertebrates, Asmadi had put dolphins in the group of fish and bats in the
group of birds. Do you agree with Asmadi? Explain your asnwer. [4m] TP4

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

Summative Practice 1

1. Complete the crossword puzzle below with the correct answers. [6m] TP2

Across
(a) The diversity of organisms whether animals, plants or microorganisms is known as ______.
(b) Amphibians are ___________ or cold-blooded.
(c) A _________ key is used by biologists to identify and classify organisms systematically.

Down
(d) ___________ are animals which have backbones.
(e) Fish breathe through ____________.
(f) An is an example of a reptile.

2. Tick (√) the true statement and cross (✗) the false statement. [9m] TP2

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) Animals that does not have backbone is categorised as vertebrate.

d) Plants and animals are the major group of organisms in the world.

e) Insects are the largest group of invertebrate in the world.

f) Biodiversity can attract tourists and improve the economy of country.

g) Apart from classifying living things, a dichotomous key can also be used to

classify non-living things.

h) Malayan tiger and Bornean orang utan are examples of endemic species that exist

in Malaysia’s tropical rainforest.

i) Endemic species are those species that only can be found in certain areas on

Earth.

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

3. Liana and some of her friends collected the following five types of animals when they

conducted a sampling activity in a forest.

a) Complete the following dichotomous key based on the physical characteristics of the
animals collected by them. [5m] TP3

b) What are the similarities between animals P, Q, R, S and T ? [1m] TP4
c) What are the differences between animals P, S and T? [3m] TP4

4. Observe diagram below.

a) Suggest two characteristics that can
be used to classify plants. [2m] TP2

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

b) Give three similarities between plant A and plant B. [3m] TP2

5. Sik Mei observed similarities between the three animals in diagram below.

Sik Mei thinks that the three animals are in the same group. Is Sik Mei correct? Give your
reason. [1m] TP2

6. List the differences between the animals in diagram below. Construct a dichotomous key to
identify the animals.

Differences: [2m] TP2
Dichotomous key: [3m] TP3

7. Deforestation is a huge threat on a global level. Nevertheless, it contributes to the
development of a nation. Justify the needs for deforestation. [2m] TP5

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

8. Diagram below shows a leatherback turtle, an endemic animal. Hunting this animal has serious

consequences. Justify. [2m] TP5

9. The diagram below shows endemic species that can be found in Malaysia. Name the endemic
species in the space provided. [3m] TP2

10. Malayan tiger and orang utan always chosen as official mascot of few sports such as
Commonwealth Games and South East Asian Games. Provide a justification why endemic
species was chosen. [2m] TP4

11. Tourism sector is one of the important sectors in Malaysia. State the importance of endemic
species towards tourism in Malaysia. [2m] TP5

12. Tick (√) the methods of preservation and conservation of biodiversity in nature. [5m] TP2
Reforestation after logging.
Stop all logging activities.
Establishing national parks, forest reserves, marine parks and wildlife.
Enforcing laws to ban illegal logging or hunting of endemic species.
Establishing breeding centre for endemic species such as turtle hatchery.
Practicing selective logging, which is cutting down only old trees.

13. What is the effect of human activities on the survival of endemic species? [2m] TP4

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SCIENCE KSSM F2 LEARNING MODULE © CIKGU LAI

14. The diagram below shows two type of animals.

Based on your observation, the animals above can be classified into which group? Explain your
answer based on one common characteristic. [2m] TP2

15. The diagram below shows two leaves that are different.

Mango Tree Maize Plant

a) Draw the veins of the leaves of the maize plant and mango tree. [2m] TP2

b) Besides the leaves, state another characteristics that can be used to differentiate the
maize plant and mango tree. [2m] TP1

16. The diagram belows shows two type of flowering plants.

a) Classify the plants above. [2m] TP2
b) State the type of roots of each plant above. [2m] TP2
17. Why are mushroom classified as fungi but not plants? [1m] TP3

End of Chapter 1

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