The Biotic and Abiotic

Components of an Ecosystem
Module in Science 7
Second Quarter

Photo by: Shirly A. Kimpay

SHIRLY A. KIMPAY
Developer

Department of Education • Cordillera Administrative Region

 Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Cordillera Administrative Region
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CAR
Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet

Published by:
Learning Resource Management and Development System

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
2020

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This material has been developed for the implementation of the K-12 Curriculum
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ii
 PREFACE

This module is a project of the Curriculum Implementation Division particularly the

Learning Resource Management and Development Unit, Department of Education,
Schools Division of CAR which is in response to the implementation of the K-12
Curriculum.

This Learning Material is a property of the Department of Education- CID, Schools

Division of CAR. It aims to improve students’ performance specifically in Science.

Date of Development : November 2020

Resource Location : CAR- LRMS
SDO- Ifugao
Kiangan Mungayang National High School District

Learning Area : Science

Grade Level :7
Learning Resource Type : Module
Language : English
Quarter/Week : Q2/W6
Learning Competency/Code : Differentiate the biotic from abiotic components of an
ecosystem. (S7LT-IIh-9)

iii
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The developer wishes to express her gratitude to those who help in the
development of this learning material. The fulfillment of this learning material would not
be possible without these people who gave their support, helping hand and cooperation:

Jane T. Dulawan, EPS Science for her words of encouragement and support and
for evaluating the content to ensure the quality of this learning material;

Arnold G. Dumawat, her School Head, for his invaluable support;

Her loving husband, Jomar and kids, Josh and Jamie for the inspiration and
moral support;

Her colleagues and friends who shared their knowledge and offered deep insight
into this task; and

Above all, our Almighty God for giving her the wisdom, patience and strength that
led to the accomplishment of this module.

DIVISION LRMDS STAFF:

SHAILA S. TAKINAN NANCY G. NALUNNE

Librarian II Project Development Officer II

JOVITA L. NAMINGIT
EPS-LRMDS

CONSULTANTS:

MARCIANA M. AYDINAN, Ph.D

Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division

PIO D. ECUAN, Ed.D.

Office of the Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

FEDERICO P. MARTIN, Ed.D., CEd.D., CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page

Title Page ........................................................................................................................i

Copyright Notice ............................................................................................................. ii
Preface .......................................................................................................................... iii
Acknowledgement.......................................................................................................... iv
Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................v
What I Need to Know ..................................................................................................... 1
What I Know .................................................................................................................. 2
What’s In ........................................................................................................................ 3
What’s New.................................................................................................................... 4
What is It ........................................................................................................................ 6
What’s More................................................................................................................. 10
What I Have Learned ................................................................................................... 13
What I Can Do ............................................................................................................. 14
Assessment ................................................................................................................. 15
Additional Activities ...................................................................................................... 16
Answer Key.................................................................................................................. 17
References .................................................................................................................. 19
Feedback Note ............................................................................................................ 20

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 The Biotic and Abiotic
Components of an Ecosystem
Module in Science 7
Second Quarter

Photo by: Shirly A. Kimpay

SHIRLY A. KIMPAY
Developer
 What I Need to Know
You see many things around you – living organisms and nonliving things.
Organisms interact with each other and with the physical and chemical factors
of the environment. This interaction of organisms with their environment is
referred to as ecological system or ecosystem.

As you go through this module, you will realize that you are an integral
part of the ecosystem. Hopefully, with that realization you will develop a strong
commitment to help protect and preserve the ecosystem you live in and the world
as a whole.

For the Facilitator:

As the facilitator of this module, be patient and understanding in helping
the student to accomplish this module. Provide clear instructions on how to go
about the activities and encourage the learner to finish this module. Please
remind the learners to use separate sheets in answering the activities found in
this module.

For the Learner:

Keep this material neat and clean. Thoroughly read every page. Follow all
instructions carefully as indicated in every activity. Answer all questions
independently and honestly. Write all your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
Be sure to compare your answers to the KEY ANSWERS only after you have
answered the given tasks. If you have questions or clarifications ask your
teacher, parent or peers.

Learning Objectives

After going through this module, you are expected to differentiate the biotic
from abiotic components of an ecosystem. (S7LT-IIh-9)

Specifically, you are also expected to:

1. determine the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem;

2. classify the biotic components of an ecosystem as producers, consumers, and
decomposers; and
3. compare abiotic from biotic components found in an ecosystem

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 What I Know
Direction: Read the items carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. What does biotic mean?

A. living B. nonliving C. once living D. decaying
2. What does abiotic mean?
A. living B. nonliving C. once living D. non decaying
3. What do you call the nonliving components of an ecosystem?
A. abiotic factors B. weather factors C. biotic factors D. living factors
4. What do you call the living components of an ecosystem?
A. abiotic factors B. weather factors
C. biotic factors D. nonliving factors
5. Which is an example of an abiotic factor in a pond ecosystem?
A. the water B. a frog C. a grasshopper D. a snake
6. Which of the following shows an abiotic factor interacting with a biotic
factor in an ecosystem?
A. A caterpillar eats the leaves of a plant
B. indoor plants wither due to lack of water in the soil
C. strong water current
D. decrease in population of fishes due to dynamite fishing
7. Which of the following is a biotic factor?
A. Sunlight B. temperature C. soil D. grass
8. Which of the following is an abiotic factor?
A. mushroom B. air C. chicken D. goat
9. Which of the following is an abiotic factor that could affect biotic factors?
A. population of cats C. number of mosquitoes
B. presence of fungi D. sudden increase in air temperature
10. Which of the following components are included in an ecosystem?
A. All living organisms C. some nonliving objects
B. Both living and nonliving things D. all nonliving thigs
11. Which of the following would represent an ecosystem?
A. a lake B. a dam C. a narra tree D. all of these
12. Which of the following phrases best describes the abiotic factors of an
ecosystem?
A. Abiotic factors are only important if they are large.
B. Abiotic factors come in variety of sizes and types
C. Abiotic factors are the nonliving things in the ecosystem
D. Abiotic factors are the living things found in the ecosystem.

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 13. A goat is an example of a biotic component of an ecosystem. What is the
role played by the goat in the ecosystem?
A. consumer B. decomposer C. producer D. navigator
14. Which if the following biotic factors are the decomposers?
A. trees B. snakes C. fungi D. mosquitoes
15. What is the role played by plants in an ecosystem?
A. primary consumers B. producers
C. decomposers D. secondary consumers

What’s In
In your previous lesson, you have learned that life continues in every living
organism through the process of reproduction. Organisms can reproduce either
sexually or asexually.

To check what you have learned, answer the following activity.

Direction: Examine the organisms shown in the pictures. Determine the mode
of reproduction and count the number of parents involved in the process of
reproduction.

Name of Picture Sexual or Asexual Number of

Organism Reproduction Parent/s
Involved
1. Potato

https://gardenerspath.com
2. Chicken

http://a4nh.cgiar.org

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3. Humans

http://2040.neda.gov.ph
4. Mango

http://mango69.blogspot.com

What’s New
The ecosystem is composed of all living things interacting with one another
and with their environment. Ecosystems may be large, such as an ocean,
wetland, or forest. They maybe small like a pond, a single tree or a rotting log.

A tree can be seen as an ecosystem in which each zone of the tree is a

habitat for a distinct community of organisms.

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 An ecosystem is a community of animals, micro-organisms, non-living
things and their shared environment. It is made up of
• habitats – the place where an organism live; and
• communities – all the living organisms that live within a habitat.

Direction: Look at the picture given below. Identify the living and non-living
things that you can see in the illustration and write these in the table. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Living Things Non Living Things

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Lesson The Biotic Components of an
1 Ecosystem
What is It

An ecosystem is consists of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living)

components. These components continually interact, characterized by
interdependent exchange of materials and energy.

Living organisms like the animals, plants, fungi, protists, and bacteria
including human beings make up the biotic components of an ecosystem. The
biotic factors include all organisms, their remains as well as their products or
wastes.

Based on their roles in the feeding relationship, the biotic components are
classified into three major groups.

A. Producers (Autotrophs or Self-feeders)

• Organisms capable of making their own food.
• They are called energy transducers. They convert the sun’s energy and the
inorganic nutrients from the soil into chemical energy through the process
of photosynthesis.
• The energy that they store serves as food for the consumers and
decomposers.
• Plants and some bacteria are the dominant producers in most ecosystems.

B. Consumers (Heterotrophs)
• Organisms that cannot make their own food. They depend on the food
made by other organisms for survival.
• Consumers are classified based on the food they eat and their place in
the ecosystem.
a. Primary Consumers are those that feed only on plants. They are always
herbivores or plant – eaters. Examples are cows, caterpillar, and goats.
b. Secondary Consumers depend on secondary consumers for food. They
can either be:
❖ Carnivores (flesh-eaters) – those that feed on meat only.
Examples are snakes, frogs, and hawks

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 ❖ Omnivores (mixed – eaters) – those that feed on both plant and
animals. Examples are humans, chicken and mouse.
c. Tertiary Consumers are organisms that depend on secondary
consumers for food. They can also be an omnivore.

C. Decomposers
• Organisms that feed on dead or decaying organisms and convert these into
soil.
• They contribute nutrients to the soil through the decomposition process.
These nutrients are used by producers to photosynthesize and
manufacture food.
• They are also known as the final consumer.
• Decomposers can be classified as:
a. Saprotrophs – organisms that use enzymes to help breakdown organic
matter in order to absorb the nutrients. Examples are fungi and
bacteria.
b. Detritivores – organism that feed on decomposing plants or animals
along with waste products. Examples are worms and insects like flies,
dung beetles, maggots and ants

All living things within an ecosystem are interdependent. A change in the

size of one population affects all other organisms within the ecosystem.

Lesson The Abiotic Components of

2 an
Ecosystem
The abiotic components of an ecosystem are the nonliving components of
the ecosystem that help sustain life. These are the physical and chemical factors
needed by biotic components in order to survive.

The abiotic components are categorized as:

1. Climatic and physical factors – air, water, soil and sunlight; humidity,
rainfall, temperature, soil texture and topography.
2. Inorganic substances – various nutrient elements and compounds

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 3. Organic Compounds – are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids etc. They largely
form the living body and link the abiotic components with the biotic
factors.

Some of the major non-living factors of an ecosystem are:

1. Air
• The air is a mixture of gases
needed by living things.
• Many living things require
oxygen for cellular respiration.
• Oxygen and Carbon dioxide is
also needed by plants and
animals in an ecosystem.

2. Sunlight
• The light from the sun is
necessary for photosynthesis, so
that plants have the energy they
need to make food.
• It influences organisms and their
environment.
• It has profound effect on the
growth and development of life.

3. Temperature

• The heat and light from the sun

are critical parts of an ecosystem.
• The sun's heat helps water
evaporate and return to the
atmosphere where it is cycled
back into water.
• The heat also keeps plants and
animals warm.
• But all living things have a range
of temperature in which they can
survive; beyond those limits it will
be difficult for them to live.

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 4. Water
• Without water there would be
no life.
• Water is a large percentage of
the cells that make up all
living organisms.
• Water is also used by plants to
carry and distribute the
nutrients they need to survive.
• All living things require water
for their survival but some can
live with lesser amounts.

5. Soil
• It provides important nutrients
for the plants.
• It helps anchor the plants to
keep them in place.
• Soil absorbs and holds water for
plants and animals to use and
provides a home for lots of living
organisms.
• The type of soil, pH level,
amount of water it holds and
available nutrients determine
the type of organism can
successfully live in the soil.

Abiotic components vary from one ecosystem to another. The abiotic

factors determine the type of organisms that can successfully live in a particular
area. These abiotic factors should not be disturbed for the biotic components to
survive in their environment.

The biotic components in an ecosystem are usually well balanced with

each other and with the physical and chemical conditions of their environment.

The table below shows the comparison of the biotic and abiotic
components of an ecosystem.

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 The biotic factors of an ecosystem like the plants, animals and
microorganisms depend on the abiotic factors for their survival. However, there
are some plants and animals that require a particular set of abiotic factors for
them to survive. The abiotic components should just be in the right conditions
for the living organism to sustain their lives.

What’s More
Activity 1. Identify and Classify Me!

Direction: Identify the biotic and abiotic factors found in the pond ecosystem. If
the component is a biotic factor, classify this as a producer, consumer, or
decomposer. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper. (A sample is done
for you.)

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Components Biotic or Producer, Consumer or
Abiotic Decomposer
Frog Biotic Consumer

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 Assessment 1

Direction: Match the terms in Column B with the description in Column A. Write
the letter of the correct answer on a separate sheet of paper.

Column A Column B
1. Organisms that depend on other organisms for A. Producers
survival B. Decomposers
2. These are the living components of an C. Biotic Factors
ecosystem D. Ecosystem
3. Organisms that feed on meat only. E. Abiotic Factors
4. The nonliving components of an ecosystem F. Primary
5. A community of living and nonliving things Consumers
6. They are also known as final consumers. G. Carnivore
7. They are the food manufacturers in an H. Consumers
ecosystem
8. Organisms that feed on dead organisms.

Activity 2. Write Me In!

Direction: The Venn diagram shows a comparison of abiotic and biotic

components of an ecosystem. Fill-in the Venn diagram by writing the term/s
found in the word pool in the appropriate circles labelled BIOTIC and ABIOTIC
components. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper.

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 • Temperature • Affects other organisms
• Fungi • Cannot adapt in accordance to
• Nonliving factors environmental conditions
• Can cause a change to living • Growth and existence depends
things on nonliving components
• Living components • Sunlight
• Existence do not depend on • Found in the biosphere
plants or animals • Plants
• Come from the atmosphere • algae
• Acidity of the soil

Assessment 2

Direction: Write True if the statement is correct. Write False if it is incorrect.

Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The abiotic factors of an ecosystem determine the type of organisms that live
in a certain area.
2. Decomposers are considered abiotic factors.
3. Some organisms can survive without water.
4. If there is no rain for one month in a certain area, the organisms living in that
area are not affected.
5. If the corn plants in a cornfield die, the water supply in the area is affected.

What I Have Learned

Direction: Fill-in the blanks with the missing words. Choose your answer from
the given words in the word pool. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

biosphere interdependent chemical water

living change abiotic factors

abiotic biotic factors ecosystem

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 1. A/an ________________ is made up of a community of organisms and
nonliving environment.
2. The living components of the ecosystem are called _______________ , which
include plants, animals and microorganisms.
3. - 5. The nonliving components, or3. __________________, include the
physical and 4.__________________ components in the environment like
temperature, 5._________________, sunlight and air.
6. - 7. All living things within an ecosystem are 6.________________. A
7.______________ in the population will affect all other organisms within the
ecosystem.
8. The __________________ components determine the kind of living
organisms that can survive in a certain ecosystem.
9. The ___________________ components depend on the nonliving factors for
growth and survival.
10. The biotic components of an ecosystem originate from the _____________.

What I Can Do
Direction: Look around your backyard or garden and list down at least 6
components of an ecosystem that you can see. Classify these as biotic or abiotic
and write the reason of your choice. (A sample is done for you.)

Components Biotic or Reason

Abiotic
Grasses Biotic • It is a living organism.
• It serves as producer in
the garden ecosystem.

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 Assessment
Direction: Read the items carefully and choose the letter of the correct answer.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following is a biotic factor?

A. sunlight B. temperature C. soil D. grass
2. What are the two components of an ecosystem?
A. living and abiotic things C. food and habitat
B. living and nonliving things D. consumers and decomposers
3. Which of the following situations shows a biotic factor operating within an
ecosystem?
A. the kind of climate in a given area
B. carnivores that eat other animals
C. the concentration of hydrogen gas in the air
D. the rate of water flow in a river
4. An ecosystem exists with biotic and abiotic factors. Which of the following
biotic factors is a producer in an ecosystem?
A. carabao B. snake C. tree D. bird
5. What are the abiotic factors in this ecosystem?
A. rain, rat, earthworms
B. sunlight, rain, air
C. shrubs, birds, air
D. rat, shrubs, spiders

6. What do you call components of an ecosystem that are alive or were once
alive?
A. abiotic B. biotic C. climate D. community
7. A cave ecosystem is made up of small weeds, bats, insects, rocks and small
particles of soil. Which is an abiotic factor in this ecosystem?
A. small weeds B. bats C. rocks D. insects
8. Which example shows a relationship between an abiotic and biotic factor
in an ecosystem?
A. an insect is a food for a salmon
B. water carries garbage downstream
C. a tree absorbs carbon dioxide from the air
D. a flower makes food for a butterfly
9. Which of the following biotic factors is a primary consumer in an
ecosystem?
A. dog B. mouse C. cow D. tree

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 10. What is the difference between the biotic and abiotic components?
A. Biotic factors are living things and abiotic factors are nonliving things.
B. Biotic factors are nonliving things and abiotic factors are living things.
C. Biotic factors are living things and abiotic factors were once living
things.
D. Biotic factors were once living things and abiotic factors are living
things.
11. Cactus is a biotic factor in a desert ecosystem that would rely on which
abiotic factor?
A. insects and sunlight C. snakes and temperature
B. Water and insects D. water and soil
12. Which is an example of an abiotic factor in a garden ecosystem?
A. a grasshopper B. an earthworm C. the soil D. a cricket
13. Which is an example of a biotic factor in an environment?
A. the climate in the area C. amount of oxygen in the air
B. herbivores that feed on plants D. flow of water in a falls
14. Which of these phrases describes the biotic factors of an ecosystem?
A. These are dissimilar organisms living together
B. Any living part of an environment
C. The number of individual organisms in each trophic level of an
ecosystem
D. An organisms that eats meat only
15. Which of these phrases best describes the abiotic factors of an ecosystem?
A. an environmental factor that tends to limit population size
B. the nonliving physical or chemical conditions of an environment
C. a species that lived in one place but has moved to anew location
D. the complete process by which habitat loss results to a decrease in
population of the biotic factors

Additional Activities
Direction: Write an essay in 5-8 sentences on the importance of the biotic and
abiotic components of an ecosystem. Use a separate sheet of paper.

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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 18
What I Know What’s In
1. A 6. B 11. C 1. Potato asexual 1
2. B 7. D 12. C 2. Chicken sexual 2
3. A 8. B 13. A 3. Humans sexual 2
4. Mango sexual 2
4. C 9. D 14. C
5. A 10. B 15. B
What’s New
Living Nonliving
Mosquito Mud
Pond skater Water
Dragonfly air
Duck/ducklings
Fish
Tadpole
Leech
Water scorpion
Pond snail
Newt
Water beetle
Weeds
Water lily
What’s More
Activity 1
Components Biotic/Abiotic
Termite biotic decomposer
Fungi Biotic decomposer
Bacteria Biotic Decomposer/producer
Plankton Biotic Producer
Protozoan Biotic Decomposer
Algae Producer Producer
Insects Biotic Consumer/decomposer
Trees Biotic Producer
Weeds Biotic Producer
Snails Biotic Consumer
Sunlight Abiotic
Water Abiotic
Soil Abiotic
Rocks Abiotic
air Abiotic
Answer Key
 19
What I Have Learned What I Can Do
1. ecosystem -Answer may vary
2. biotic factors
3. abiotic factors
4. chemical
5. water
6. interdependent
7. change
8. nonliving
9. living
10. biosphere
Assessment 1 Activity 2 Assessment 2
1. H 1. T
2. C 2. F
3. G 3. F
4. E 4. T
5. D 5. T
6. B
7. A
8. B
Assessment
1. D 6. B 11. D
2. B 7. C 12. C
3. B 8. C 13. B
4. D 9. C 14. B
5. B 10. A 15. B
 References
Balasubramanian, A. “Ecosystem and Its Components,” ResearchGate 2008.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314213426 Retrieved December 11,
2020

Blaettler, Karen. “Abiotic and Biotic Factors in Ecosystems”. November 2019,

https://Sciencing.com/abiotic-biotic-factors-ecosytems-7146052.html.
Retrieved December 19, 2020

“Ecosystem – Structure, Functions and Types of Ecosystems. BYJU’s: The

Learning App. https://byjus.com/biology/ecosystem/. Retrieved December
11,2020

Mentzer, Alissa. “The Role of a Consumer in an Ecosystem”. May 2019.

https://Sciencing.com/role_com. Retrieved on December 09, 2020

Rabago, Lilia. Science and Technology 7 Quezon City: Vibal Publishing House,
Inc., 2014, 153-157.

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For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education
Cordillera Administrative Region
Schools Division of Ifugao
Lagawe, Ifugao
Telefax:
Email Address: Ifugao@deped.gov.ph

DepEd CAR LR #: 536-12-20

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