5 Science

Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Interactions Among Living Things
and Non-living Things in Estuaries
and Intertidal Zone
S5LT-IIh-8
Science – Grade 5
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 - Module 6: Interactions Among Living Things and Non-living Things in
Estuaries and Intertidal Zone - S5LT-IIh-8
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education - Region III

Secretary : Leonor M Briones
Undersecretary : Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Author : Sonny Austin B. Reyes

Language Reviewer: Veronica V. Velarde, Analy F. Santos, PhD
Content Editor : Cristina V. Veneracion
Illustrator : Sonny Austin B. Reyes
Layout Artist : Sonny Austin B. Reyes

Management Team

Gregorio C. Quinto, Jr., EdD

Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
Rainelda M. Blanco, Ph.D.
Education Program Supervisor - LRMDS
Agnes R. Bernardo, Ph.D.
EPS-Division ADM Coordinator
Marinella P. Garcia SY, PhD
EPS – Science
Glenda S. Constantino
Project Development Officer II
Joannarie C. Garcia
Librarian II

Department of Education, Schools Division of Bulacan

Curriculum Implementation Division
Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol Compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan
 5

Science
Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Interactions Among Living Things
and Non-living Things in Estuaries
and Intertidal Zone
S5LT-IIh-8
 Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
Welcome to the Science Grade 5 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Interactions
Among Living Things and Non-living Things in Estuaries and Intertidal Zones!
This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators from public
institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator, in helping the learners meet the standards
set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic
constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent learning
activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the
needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that will
help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also
need to keep track of the learners’ progress while allowing them to manage their own learning.
Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks
included in the module.
For the learner:
Welcome to the Science Grade 5 Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Interactions
Among Living Things and Non-living Things in Estuaries and Intertidal Zones!
This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided
and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the
contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.
This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

This will give you an idea of the skills or

competencies you are expected to learn in the
What I Need to Know module.

This part includes an activity that aims to check what

you already know about the lesson to take. If you
What I Know
get all the answers correct (100%), you may decide
to skip this module.

1
 This is a brief drill or review to help you link the current lesson
What’s In with the previous one.

In this portion, the new lesson will be introduced to you in

What’s New various ways; a story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

This section provides a brief discussion of the lesson. This

What is It aims to help you discover and understand new concepts and
skills.

This comprises activities for independent practice to solidify

your understanding and skills of the topic. You may check the
What’s More
answers to the exercises using the Answer Key at the end of
the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank sentence/paragraph to be

filled into process what you learned from the lesson.

This section provides an activity which will help you transfer

What Can I Do your new knowledge or skill into real life situations or
concerns.

This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of mastery in

Assessment
achieving the learning competency.

In this portion, another activity will be given to you to enrich

Additional Activities
your knowledge or skill of the lesson learned.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References - This is a list of all sources used in developing this module.
The following are some reminders in using this module:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the module.
Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities included
in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult
your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep
understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is

here to help you to learn the interactions among living things and
non-living things in estuaries and intertidal zones. This module
provides knowledge to be used in many different learning
situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of pupils. The lessons here are arranged and guided by the
standards.

The lesson of the module:

• Lesson 1 – Interactions Among Living Things and Non-living
Things in Estuaries and Intertidal Zones

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify estuary and intertidal zone;
2. discuss the interactions among living things and non-living
things in estuaries and intertidal zone;

3
 What I Know

Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen
letter on a separate sheet of paper.

1. It is a partially enclosed body of water along the coast

where fresh water from rivers and streams meets and mixes
with salt water from the ocean.
a. estuary c. rainfall
b. groundwater d. watershed

2. Which of the following is NOT a major type of estuaries?

a. bar-built c. contamination
b. coastal plain d. fjords

3. What kind of ecosystem where the ocean floor is covered

and uncovered as the tide goes in and out?
a. estuary c. food web
b. food chain d. intertidal zone

4. When is the intertidal zone completely covered with water?

a. at high tide c. during daylight hours
b. at low tide d. during nighttime hours

5. All of these are animals you might see in the intertidal zone,
except:
a. barnacles, limpets, and mussels
b. hermit crabs and razor clams
c. sea cucumbers and anemones
d. whale sharks and giant squids

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 What’s In

Directions: Find the words/terms inside the word search puzzle that
are related in ecosystem. Below are the clues and write your answers
on the blank provided.

ECOSYSTEM WORD SEARCH

C O M M U N I T Y L M Z S P
S U V T R D Z N K H T H O O
X A B N L X I T K W H L M P
T W K R D S N T Q E Q P O U
A W Q T N N I U T N A Z Q L
B I O T I C F D D L T X V A
I C A E S N Z R J J F W I T
O J F G L D Z C R T N N W I
T N I S R L C N O H Q Y D O
I S K B B M U N U U I A B N
C E T N H E Q T R E H D R H
O A S L S Z T D O W Z R P X
X A D B M N I R L Z Q J I S
O R G A N I S M S K R T S G
O_ G _ _ I _ _ S C _ _ M _ _ I _Y A_ _ O _ _C
clues:
B_ _ _ _C P_ _U_ _ T _ _N

1. _____________________ 4. _____________________
2. _____________________ 5. _____________________
3. _____________________

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 What’s New

The Philippines is the world’s major pathway for an

endangered species of turtle called “pawikan”. These pawikan are
called “gardeners of the ocean” because they help disperse plants
and nutrients in the sea and beaches that are important elements
in the food chain. These beautiful creatures are steadily
decreasing. Mrs. Elena shares some information to her children
about helping these endangered species. Let us read their
conversation.

Goodmorning mom, can we ask you

something about the pawikan that we
saw yesterday?
Mom, they said that
pawikans were among
the most endangered
marine species in the
world. What can we do
to help pawikans (sea
turtles)?
Oh, those are lots of
information. Thank you so
much for sharing, mother.
Yes sure, kindly sit here, Marie and Paul.
Buying and selling pawikan are prohibited by our government.
Whether live or meat products are not allowed to be sold and
are considered illegal activities. These activities should be
reported immediately to law enforcement agencies or the
nearest local office of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR). We should keep our beaches and
marine waters clean and support local pawikan conservation
initiatives. Many concerned individuals and even young people
participate in volunteer works. In that case, we will have the
chance to see these gentle creatures.
You are welcome Marie and Paul,
thank you for listening. Kindly share
also these facts to your friends.

Sure! Thank you, mom.

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 What is It

Lesson Interactions Among Living

1 Things and Non-living Things in

Estuaries and Intertidal Zones
An Estuary
An estuary is a body of water near the coast where fresh water
from rivers and streams flows into the ocean and mixes with
salt water.
In estuaries, the water level and salinity rise and fall with tides.
These also affect the rise and fall of seasons. However, many
estuaries are protected from the fall force of ocean waves, winds,
and storms by such landforms as barrier islands or peninsulas.
In the Philippines, there are large estuaries that play an
important role in fishery as nursery grounds for certain fishes and
crustaceans. One of the most popular estuaries in the Philippines is
the Puerto Princesa Underground River in Palawan.

An estuary may be called a bay, a lagoon, or a harbor if

freshwater mixes with salt water. Estuaries provide rich feeding
grounds for coastal fish and migratory birds, and drowning areas for
fish and shellfish.

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 There are many different types of habitat that are found in
estuaries. These include freshwater and salt marshes, shallow open
waters, swamps, mud and sand flats, sandy beaches, rocky shores,
oyster reefs, mangrove forests, river deltas, tidal pools, and sea
grasses.
Furthermore, several plant and animal species live and grow
well in estuaries. The calm waters provide a safe area for small fish,
shellfish, migrating birds, and shore animals.

shellfish migrating birds

Major Types of Estuaries
There are different kinds of estuaries, each created in different
way: 1) coastal plain estuaries; 2) bar-built estuaries; 3) tectonic
estuaries and 4) fjord estuaries.
1. Coastal Plain Estuaries – These are created when sea levels
rise and fill in an existing river valley. The Chesapeake Bay, on
the East Coast of the United States, is a coastal plain estuary.
2. Bar-built Estuaries - When a lagoon or bay is protected from
the ocean by a sandbar or barrier island, it is called a bar-built
estuary. The Outer Banks, a series of narrow barrier islands in
North Carolina and Virginia, create sandy, bar-built estuaries.
3. Tectonic Estuaries - Tectonic activity, the shifting together and
rifting apart of the Earth's crust, creates tectonic estuaries.
California's San Francisco Bay is a tectonic estuary.
4. Fjords Estuaries – These estuaries are created by glaciers. Fjord
estuaries occur when glaciers carve out a deep, steep valley.
Glaciers retreat and the ocean rushes into fill the narrow,

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 deep depression. Puget Sound is a series of fjord estuaries in
the U.S. state of Washington and Glacier Bay in Alaska is an
example of a fjord estuary.

Intertidal Zone
The intertidal zone is the area where land and sea meet,
between high and low tide zones. This habitat is covered with water
at high tide and exposed to air at low tide. The land in this zone can
be rocky, sandy, or covered in mudflats.
The intertidal zone is
a home to a wide variety
of organisms. Organisms
in this zone can adapt to
allow them to survive in
this challenging, ever-
changing environment.
Organisms that live in the
intertidal zone tend to
form their own
communities across
the zone’s elevation
gradient.

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Subzones in Intertidal Zones
The intertidal zone can be further divided into three zones:
high tide, middle tide, and low tide.
1. High Tide Zone (Upper Mid-littoral) - The high tide zone is
only submerged at high tide and is hotter and drier as a
result and the environment is highly saline.
2. Middle Tide Zone (Lower Mid-Littoral) - The middle tide
zone is submerged and exposed for equal amounts of time.
It is flooded and unflooded twice a day with salt water from
the tides.
3. Low Tide Zones (Lower Littoral) - The low tide zone is only
exposed during low tide and has the greatest biodiversity
of the three zones because it provides more favorable
conditions for those organisms that cannot tolerate air
exposure for long.

Mangroves are special plants which can adapt to saline

environment. They provide shelter to animals in intertidal zones and
estuaries.
Interactions Among Living Things and Non-living Things in Estuaries
and Intertidal Zones
An Open Ecosystem
The estuary is an ecosystem – a group of living and non-living
things interacting with each other. The physical environment of the
ecosystem is the habitat in which organisms live.

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 The habitat must provide the organisms within it with what they
need for survival such as food, water oxygen and minerals. The
organisms within the estuaries and intertidal zones are constantly
competing, preying and/or co-operating with others to survive.
The estuary ecosystem is ‘open’ because it is also
interdependent with the connecting environment. Nutrients are
brought in by rivers and dispersed by tidal currents. Nutrients are
also transferred through the nutrient cycle.
Plants (such as algae, seagrasses, kelp, and mangroves) take
up nutrients, which are then eaten by animals. When the plants and
animals die and decompose, the nutrients are released again.
Organisms such as fish and birds transfer nutrients as they move in
and out of the estuary.
Abiotic Factors in an Intertidal Zone and Estuary Ecosystem
Both intertidal zones and estuaries provide habitats for many
organisms. These habitats have a lot of abiotic (non-living) factors
that affect the organisms thriving in them.
These factors are water in the forms of waves, salinity,
temperature, amount of sunlight, and type of soil.
1. Waves – Waves refer to the movement of the surface of the
water. These are strong forces that organisms must learn to live
with.
2. Salinity – It refers to the amount of salt in water. Mangroves
and blue crabs have adjusted well to the constantly changing
salinity of water due to the continuous flow of freshwater and
saltwater through the estuary.
3. Temperature – It refers to the level of hotness or coldness of
water. It changes because of the tides and amount of
sunlight. Some of organisms use plants like mangroves to keep
themselves hidden from direct sunlight or away from the
coldness of the water.

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 4. Amount of sunlight – Since the intertidal zones and estuaries
are shallow as compared to the seas, they are also conducive
for photosynthesis to take place.
5. Types of soil - The types of soil differ in the estuaries depending
on the strength of waves and kind of rock present in the area.
Some areas are full of rocks, sand, pebble, or clay.

Biotic Factors in an Intertidal Zone and Estuary Ecosystem

Biotic (living) factors in an ecosystem such as an intertidal zone
and estuary are composed of all plant, animals and
microorganisms living in it. These organisms live in different habitats
found in intertidal zones and estuaries. These includes coral reefs,
salt marshes, mudflats, rocky shores, and mangrove forests.
1. Coral reefs – They are the areas of estuaries which part of the
subtidal zone where biodiversity is rich. Coral reefs provide
shelter to thousands of fish. The corals themselves are animals
that feed on plankton. These coral form reefs that protect the
coast from strong waves and currents.
2. Salt marshes – They are areas in the estuary that are filled with
seawater during high tides and are drained during low tides.
They are marshy because they are filles with decomposing
plan matter. Organisms found in salt marshes are clams,
mussels, oysters, crabs, snails, and shrimps.
3. Mudflats – Mudflats or tidal flats are areas in estuaries where
mud from the seas or rivers is deposited. They are usually the

12
 areas for migratory birds, crabs, sand dollars, mussels, clams,
mollusks, shellfish, and some fish.
4. Rocky shores – Rocky shores are areas in estuaries where solid
rocks are found. Animal found in the rocky shores are
plankton, brittle stars, starfish, hermit crab, barnacles, limpets,
mollusks, periwinkle, shore crabs, shrimps, and prawns.
5. Mangrove forests – They are areas in estuary that are filled with
mangrove trees. These trees have adapted to saltwater.
Other organisms fond in the mangrove ecosystems are algae,
barnacles, oysters, shrimps, lobsters, and crabs.

shrimp, oysters,
Coral reefs crab, and lobster

Some of the Threats to Estuaries and Intertidal Zones

1. Urban development - Housing development,
recreational activities and fishing will change the
environment and have an impact on estuaries and
intertidal zones.
2. Pollution - Litter on our beaches and floating in the salt
species of fishes
and fresh water pollutes estuaries and intertidal zones, in
particular,
species non-biodegradable litter.
of fishes
3. Climate Change - Changes in temperature due to
climate change also threaten the organisms outright.
Spikes in temperature can lead to die-offs, creating a
catastrophic effect in the food chain.
4. Human Impact – Humans harvest animals and plants
from the intertidal zone for food, or for home aquariums.

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 What’s More

Independent Activity 1
Directions: True or False. Write T if the following statement is TRUE and
F if FALSE. Write your answer on the blank provided in each number.

___________1. Estuaries are made up of many types of habitats.

___________2. Intertidal zone is under water and other times

exposed to the sun and air.
___________3. All organisms can tolerate the environmental
condition in an estuary.
___________4. Constant wave action in intertidal zone supplies the
tide pool with nutrients and oxygen.
___________5. Estuaries cannot provide rich feeding grounds for
constant fish and migratory birds and drowning areas
for fish and shellfish.

Independent Assessment 1
Directions: Supply the missing word to complete the paragraph
below. Choose from the answers inside the box.
waves abiotic habitats living coral reefs

Both intertidal zones and estuaries provide (1) ________ for

many organisms. These habitats have a lot of (2) _______ (nonliving)
factors that affect the organisms thriving in them. These factors are
water in the forms of (3) _______, salinity, temperature, amount of
sunlight, and type of soil. On the other hand, (4) ________ (biotic)
factors in an ecosystem such as an intertidal zone and estuary are
composed of all plant, animals and microorganisms living in it.
These organisms live in different habitats fond in intertidal zones and
estuaries. These includes (5) ____________, salt marshes, mudflats,
rocky shores, and mangrove forests.

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 What I Have Learned

Directions: Fill in the missing letters to complete the word being

defined in each number.
1. 2.

S_ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _
They are areas in the estuary
that are filled with seawater
during high tides and are
drained during low tides.
C_ _ _ _ R _ _ _ _
They are the areas of estuaries
which part of the subtidal zone
where biodiversity is rich. They
provide shelter to thousands of fish.

3.

M_ _ _ _ _ _ _ F _ _ _ _ _ _
They are areas in estuary that
are filled with mangrove trees.
These trees have adapted to
saltwater.

4. 5.

R_ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ M_ _ f _ _ _ _
These are areas in estuaries These tidal flats are areas in
where solid rocks are found. estuaries where mud from the
seas or rivers is deposited.

15
 What Can I Do

Estuaries are often called the “nurseries of the ocean”. Many

fish species lay their eggs in estuaries. The abundant life in estuaries
provides a safe place for young fish you live. As a fifth grader, what
simple ways can you do to help protect these special natural
areas? Write about this below
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

Assessment

I. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the
chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Mudflats are area in estuaries where ______ is deposited from
the seas or rivers.
a. corals reefs c. mud
b. modernized rock d. tides

2. All of these are plants you might see in the intertidal zone,
except:
a. daisy c. kelp
b. green algae d. seaweed

3. What causes the changing salinity of water in estuaries?

a. the amount of sunlight
b. the hotness and coldness of water
c. the kinds of rocks found in the estuary
d. the continuous flow of fresh and saltwater

4. The Low Tide Zone (or Lower Littoral Zone) is all these things,
except:
a. It has no organisms.
b. It has tons of wildlife.
c. It gets dry only for a short time during low tide.
d. It has the greatest biodiversity of the three zones.

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 5. Estuary is known as the __________ of the sea.
a. garden c. nursery
b. market d. screen

II. Modified True or False. Write TRUE if the statement is correct but if
it is false, change the underlined word or group of words to make
the whole statement true.
_______6. The physical environment of the ecosystem is the habitat
in which organisms live.
_______7. Organisms such as fishes and birds transfer nutrients as
they move in and out of the estuary.
_______8. The habitat must provide the organisms within it with what
they need for survival such as food, water oxygen and minerals.
_______9. The estuary is not an open ecosystem because it is also
interdependent with the connecting environment.
_______10. Several plant and animal species live and grow well in
estuaries. The calm waters provide a safe area for small fish, shellfish,
migrating birds, and shore animals.

Additional Activities

Directions: Unjumbled the letters below to form words about the

non-living factors in an intertidal zone and estuary ecosystem. Write
your answer on the space provided.

1. EEMPTRETUAR 4. VWEAS
_____________________ _____________________

2. LSUIGNTH 5. TSAILINY
_____________________ _____________________

3. SPETY FO SLOI
_____________________

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 18
Additional Assessment What’s More
Activities I. Independent Activity 1
1. TEMPERATURE 1. c 1. T
2. SUNLIGHT 2. a 2. T
3. TYPES OF SOIL 3. d 3. F
4. WAVES 4. a 4. T
5. SALINITY 5. c 5. F
Independent Assessment 1
II.
1. habitats
What Can I Do 6. TRUE 2. abiotic
7. TRUE 3. waves
Answers may vary 8. TRUE 4. living
9. Open ecosystem 5. coral reefs
10. TRUE
What I Have What’s In What I Know
Learned 1. a
2. c
1. Salt marshes 3. d
2. Coral reefs 4. a
3. Mangrove forests 5. d
4. Rocky shores
5. mudflats
Answer Key
 References

Sarte, E., Garcia, E., Lopez, E., Dela Cruz, M. J., Arradaza, H. (2016). Science Beyond
Borders 5. Quezon City, Philippines: Vibal Group, Inc.

Slide share, “Estuaries”, accessed October 30, 2020,

https://www.slideshare.net/lavaneparra/estuaries-38539199

Larisma, E., Mariano, J. J., Apolinario, N. (2017). The New Science Links 5 (Revised ed.).
Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store, Inc.

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 For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:
Department of Education, Schools Division of Bulacan
Curriculum Implementation Division
Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol Compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan
Email address: lrmdsbulacan@deped.gov.ph