Department of Education

National Capital Region

Schools Division of Parañaque
City Self-Learning Modules
SCIENCE 7 QUARTER 2 WEEK 7
Changes in the Abiotic Factors on an
Ecosystem

Learning Competency
Predict the effect of changes in abiotic factors on the ecosystem (S7LT-llj-12)

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners should be able to:

1. predict the possible effects of changes in the number of one population to
another population living in the same ecosystem.
2. explain the effects of human activities on a balanced ecosystem.

Let’s Recall

Directions: Match the ecological relationships in column A with their

corresponding descriptions in column B. Write your answers on your answer
sheet.

A B
1. One organism benefits and the other a. Commensalism
is harmed and it dies right away b. Mutualism
2. One organism benefits and the other is c. Competition
harmed but it does not die right d. Predation
away e. Parasitism
3. The one with better adaptation wins
4. Both organisms benefit at the
same time
5. One organism benefits and the other
remains neutral

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 Let’s Understand

An ecosystem is defined as any community of living and nonliving things that co-exist.

Ecosystems around us do not have clear boundaries. In order to understand what makes each

ecosystem unique, we need to look at the biotic and abiotic factors within them. In the previous

module, it was already discussed the difference between Biotic factors (are all the living organisms

within an ecosystem. These may be plants, animals, fungi, and any other living things.) and the

Abiotic factors (are all the non-living things in an ecosystem).

If one population dies out, all the populations that depend on that species will be affected and

possible soon will all die out. It shows that one population affects the entire community because all the

populations in the entire biosphere are interdependent respectively.

Population - is defined as a group of organisms of one species that can interbreed and who live in the

same area at the same time. Some examples are the wolf, deer, or human population in an area.

Size - A population's size is the most potent factor affecting an ecosystem. The bigger the population, the

more strain it puts on the ecosystem. If a population grows too large, the ecosystem could collapse.

Human activities show a great impact on the ecosystem for the past few decades. As we modify

the environment to fit our needs, it causes severe effects. Some of the human activities that cause damage

to the environment either directly or indirectly are human overpopulation, overexploitation, pollution,

deforestation, and dynamite fishing.

Ecological Footprint measures how fast we consume resources and generate waste compared to

how fast nature can absorb our waste and generate. It also refers to the amount of land a person needs to

sustain his lifestyle and it will provide all his basic needs to survive.

We are biological beings, and we are part of the ecology on earth. We use resources from this

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planet to live, grow, and continue to develop our civilizations. For us to survive, we do a lot of

activities to sustain our needs. As a result, we produce our own ecological footprint. It simply means

the impact of human activities on the globe and the amount of resources necessary to produce the

goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle.

Let’s Apply
Directions: Read thoroughly the following activities given, then answer the tasks for
each activity. Write your answers on your answer sheet.

Activity 1:
Nowadays, some types of animals are considered endangered species. This means
there are few animals of that kind left in the wild or in captivity. One problem is
animals lost their natural habitat because of humans. As the human population
increases, more and more spaces are needed for building construction. It pushes the
animals to move away from their natural habitat. Forest and swamp are the most
threatened since more trees are cut down to build more homes.

Task: For more than a decade of your life, as you observe the environmental changes
happening in our country, can you cite three more examples that demonstrate how the
change in the human population affects the population of other species in an ecosystem.
Example: The higher the human population, the greater demand for animal meat.

Activity 2:
The table below compares the ecological footprint of groups of countries.

Population Ecological Footprint (global

(million) hectares per person)
World 6,671.6 2.7
High Income Countries 1,031.4 6.1
Middle Income Countries 4,323.3 2.0
Low Income Countries 1,303.3 1.2
Source: http://todhigh.com/clickandbuilds/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Human-Impact-on-the-Environment-
Worksheet.pdf

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Directions: Use the information displayed in this table to complete the gaps in the passage
below. Choose your answer from the words inside the parenthesis.

The more developed countries are the high-income countries. They have a (lower, higher) proportion of
the world’s population. Most people in the world live in (high income, middle income) countries. The
most developed countries have the (lowest, highest) ecological footprint per person. This means they
use (more, less) resources per person and produce (more, less) waste per person than people in less
developed countries.

Activity 3:

Directions: Identify what human activity is directly responsible for the following
situations. Choose from the box below.

A. Excessive Carbon Dioxide Emission D. Overfishing

B. Illegal Logging E. Overpopulation

C. Conversion of Agricultural Land to Residential Land

1. Mang Luis cannot catch enough fish for his family’s daily needs.
2. Landslides occurred frequently in the mountainous area these past few
weeks.
3. Xymon has difficulty breathing every time he goes to the city.
4. There is a constant increase in the price of agricultural products.
5. The supply of basic commodities in the community is not enough.

Activity 4:
Directions: Tell whether there is an effect on the population when a certain abiotic
component is changed. Write YES if there is and NO if there is none.
1. The ocean level is continuously increasing every year.
2. The atmospheric temperature is constantly increasing.
3. Drought is happening in most of the countries on the African continent.
4. The number of destructive typhoons originating from the Pacific Ocean
gets high.
5. The fresh water along the river channels becomes contaminated because
of oil spill.

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Let’s Analyze

Activity 1:
In Thailand, people kill snakes to make bags,
shoes, belts, and other stuff from their skin. The
farmers notice there are too many rats in therice
fields.
Are the two situations related? Explain your
answer.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nEOf3bYCb8

An ecosystem is defined as any community of living and nonliving things that

co-exist. Ecosystems around us do not have clear boundaries. In order to understand
what makes each ecosystem unique, we need to look at the biotic and abiotic factors
within them. In the previous module, it was already discussed the difference
between Biotic factors (are all the living organisms within an ecosystem. These may be
plants, animals, fungi, and any other living things.) and the Abiotic factors (are all the
non-living things in an ecosystem).

If one population dies out, all the populations that depend on that species will be
affected and possible soon will all die out. It shows that one population affects the
entire community because all the populations in the entire biosphere are interdependent
respectively.

SCORING RUBRICS 1
Points Description

5 Student understanding of the concept is evident, uses effective strategies

to get accurate results, and uses logical thinking to arrive at a conclusion
4 Student understanding of the concept is evident, uses appropriate
strategies to arrive at a result, and shows thinking skills to arrive at a
conclusion
3 Student has limited understanding of a concept; uses strategies that are
ineffective; and attempts to show thinking skills
2 Student has a lack of understanding of concept; hesitant to use strategy;
and no clear understanding of questions
1 Student has a complete lack of understanding of concept; makes no
attempt to use a strategy; and shows no understanding at all
5
Source: https://ar.pinterest.com/pin/301952350008016634/

Activity 2:
Directions: Look at the image. Think of its consequences. Then, enumerate the
different effects either directly or indirectly of continuous burning of fossil fuels.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Source: https://borgenproject.org/socioeconomic-implications-of-air-pollution/

(Refer to SCORING RUBRICS 1)

Activity 3:

During summer in Nueva Ecija, a province in

the central part of Luzon, people experience a severe
water crisis. Drought occurred everywhere in the
province. Most of the living organisms are suffering.
The entire ecosystem is experiencing its negative
impact.

Source: https://www.manilatimes.net/2016/05/14/business/q1-farm-output-drops-due-to-el-nino/261840/

Task: Explain the effects of this natural phenomenon in one population and how it
affects the other. You may use the following phrases to connect with your idea.
Write your essay on your answer sheet.

● water as a basic need

● massive death of organisms
● cause and effect of insufficient water supply
● interconnection of populations in an ecosystem

(Refer to SCORING RUBRICS 1)

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Let’s Try
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer and write it on your answer sheet.

1. An environment’s biotic and abiotic factors interact to make a(n)

a) Habitat b) Niche c) Ecosystem d) Resources

2. When abiotic components in a living ecosystem are changing rapidly, it affects

the condition of the biotic components interacting with it.
a) True b) False c) It does not matter to them d) Never

3. Weather and soil conditions are part of the factors of an ecosystem.

a) Biotic b) Biomass c) Abiotic d) Habitat

4. Sampaguita plants need moisture, carbon dioxide, sunlight, and nutrients

to survive. This scenario shows that living organisms depend on .
a) Biotic Factors b) Abiotic Factors c) Symbiotic Factors d) Ecological
Relationship

5. Forest fire happened in Australia during the first quarter of the year 2020. Which of
the following situations shows the direct effect of the natural calamity?
a) Too much precipitation fell on the region
b) Many biotic components die because of dehydration and suffocation
c) More leisure parks will be opened
d) There is an increase in animal population

Let’s Create

SLOGAN MAKING
A slogan is a striking or memorable phrase used in advertising. It is used as a strategy
to catch the attention of your desired audience.

Task: Using a clean oslo paper and coloring materials, create a slogan on how to
encourage more people to help and protect the environment.

Encourage more people to help and protect the environment

Objective:
through proposed advocacy

DENR Project Manager

Role:
Audience: Classmates and subject teacher

Scenario: As an appointed official, you are assigned to create an advocacy

campaign on how to encourage people to help and protect the
environment

Performance/ Very Meaningful Slogan that will catch the attention of the targeted
Output: audience with a clear explanation of the campaign

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 SCORING RUBRICS 2
STANDARDS: 4 3 2 1
Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates a Demonstrates
UNIQUENESS a thorough an partial little
/ understanding understanding understanding understanding
CREATIVITY of the slogan of the slogan of the slogan of the slogan
35% campaign. campaign. campaign. campaign.
Demonstrates Demonstrates Work appears No evidence
a unique level creativity little creativity of creativity
of creativity
NONCONFOR No Partially copied Almost all the Totally copied
MITY FROM resemblance from the content is from the
INTERNET from what can internet similar to what internet
CONTENT be found on can be found on
35% the internet the internet
ATTRACTIVE The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is
NESS/VISUAL exceptionally attractive in acceptably poorly
IMPACT attractive in terms of design attractive in attractive in
20% terms of and layout either design or both design
design and layout. and layout
layout
NEATNESS The output is The output is The output has The output is
OF THE exceptionally ordinarily neat blotches/erasure not neat and
WORK neat and and clean. s. clean.
10% clean.