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Science
Quarter 2 - Module 7:
Interactions

AIRs - LM
Science
Quarter 2 - Module 7: Interactions
First Edition, 2020

Copyright © 2020
La Union Schools Division
Region I

All rights reserved. No part of this module may be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the copyright owners.

Development Team of the Module

Author: Jerome C. Casilla

Editor: SDO La Union, Learning Resource Quality Assurance Team
Illustrator: Ernesto F. Ramos, Jr., P II

Management Team:

ATTY. Donato D. Balderas, Jr.

Schools Division Superintendent
Vivian Luz S. Pagatpatan, Ph.D
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
German E. Flora, Ph.D, CID Chief
Virgilio C. Boado, Ph.D, EPS in Charge of LRMS
Rominel S. Sobremonte, Ed.D, EPS in Charge of Science
Michael Jason D. Morales, PDO II
Claire P. Toluyen, Librarian II
 Science
Quarter 2 - Module 7:
Interactions
 Target

You have been to a flower garden, a rice field, a pond or a coastal area. These
are ecosystems. Some of these are natural while others are man-made. What makes
each ecosystem unique? Many factors influence every part of our ecosystem: things
like how tall trees grow, where animals and plants are found, and why birds migrate.
Even slight changes in abiotic factors can have a significant effect on organisms and
in the ecosystem.

In your previous lesson, you were able to compare biotic from abiotic
components of an ecosystem and identify the different ecological relationships found
in an ecosystem.

This module will provide you with information and activities that will help you
understand the effect of changes in abiotic factors on the ecosystem.

After going through this module, you are expected to attain the following
objectives:

Most Essential Learning Competency:

• Predict the effect of changes in abiotic factors on the ecosystem (S7LT-IIj-12)

Subtasks:
1. Describe the importance of abiotic components of an ecosystem
2. Interpret how abiotic components affect the ecosystem
3. Determine the influence of changes in abiotic factors on the ecosystem

Pre-Test
Multiple Choice: Read each item carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer in
the space provided before each number.

____1. Which of the following best defines abiotic factors?

A. Abiotic factors are the collection of living and nonliving components.
B. Abiotic factors are the nonliving factors of an ecosystem.
C. Abiotic factors are neither living nor nonliving factors.
D. Abiotic factors are the living factors of an ecosystem.
____2. Which of the following is abiotic factor?
A. trees and temperature C. trees and rainfall
B. bacteria and plants D. temperature and rainfall
____3. Cacti have adapted a thick, waxy covering and large, fleshy stems. Which
abiotic factor, due to its limitation, has encouraged these adaptations?
A. Atmosphere B. Soil C. Temperature D. Water
____4. Which abiotic factor has the greatest influence on the productivity of plants?
A. light B. soil C. topography D. water
____5. Which of the following is NOT an effect of abiotic component in an organism?
A. migration of animals C. hibernation of some organisms
B. dispersal of spores and seeds D. changes in the temperature
____6. Which of the following is an abiotic factor that may affect the population of
organisms?
A. parasites B. plants C. predators D. temperature
____7. The following are abiotic factors that may affect the population of organisms
EXCEPT __________.
A. atmosphere B. earthquake C. predators D. typhoon
____8. Which of the following represents a nonliving component of the ecosystem?
A. grass on hills C. sunflower seedlings
B. frog on a pond D. temperature in a mountain
____9. Among the following abiotic factors, which is known to be the main source of
energy?
A. atmosphere B. light C. soil D. temperature
____10. Which of the following pertains to the feature of the surface of the land like
rolling hills and rocky areas that exist in the ecosystem.
A. soil B. temperature C. topography D. water
____11. Organisms that are diurnal___.
A. live in two different places in a year C. hibernate every other year
B. are only active during daytime D. are only active at night
____12. Some animals cope with temperature changes by moving out of a place or
area. Which of the following best describes the statement?
A. Dessication of environment C. Organisms estivate
B. Hibernation of animals D. Migration of organisms
____13. Tropical areas experience high precipitation that means _____.
A. plenty of plants will grow in them C. support less plant life
B. minimal vegetation will thrive there D. few organisms are present there
____14. Which of the following categories of abiotic factor pertains to the soil
characteristics?
A. Climatic B. Edaphic C. Physiographic D. Social
____15. Which of the following abiotic factors best describes this statement,
“Hibernation is dormancy during winter?”
A. Atmosphere B. Light C. Temperature D. Topography

Lesson
Effect of Changes in Abiotic Factors on
1 the Ecosystem

The way in which the living organisms in a particular ecosystem grow and
perform their various activities is a product of the different abiotic factors. Abiotic
factors are the nonliving components of the area.

The abiotic factors can determine the type of organisms that can survive in a
given place and they support organisms in their biological processes. The abiotic
components also influence the number and variety of plants that will grow in the
same area. The number and variety of plants also influence the number and variety
of animals that will live in the same area.
 Before you learn the effect of changes in non-living component on the
ecosystem, let us familiarize ourselves with the different abiotic factors.

Jumpstart

Activity 1: Rotate Me!

For this activity, learners will play “ ABIOTICscapes”, a short game inspired
from a mobile application – Wordscapes. It aims to recall concepts previously
discussed about biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem, as well as unlock
and relate new terms that will be encountered on today’s lesson.

Direction: Letters are jumbled inside a circle. You will have to rearrange the letters
in order to form the correct term. Write your answer on the space provided below the
circle.

L R I
H G E W
S O
T I T A
L

1. ___________ 2. ______________ 3. ______________

T
E E
T O
R W
R P P
P I N
U H O
M D
A Y G
T E
A R

4. ___________ 5. ____________ 6. ____________

 Discover

The abiotic factors in an ecosystem include all the nonliving elements of the
ecosystem. The abiotic factors, which living things depend on, are grouped into three
categories: climatic factors, edaphic factors, and physiographic factors.

1. Climatic Factors

Climatic factors pertain to the factors in the environment that affect the
weather. These factors include light, temperature, water, and atmosphere. Prevailing
weather patterns and conditions dictate the conditions under which organisms will
be expected to live.

Light

Sunlight is the main source of energy on Earth, which makes it an important

abiotic factor. Light is a limiting factor to terrestrial organisms. It is needed by green
plants. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert
carbon dioxide (CO2) and water to oxygen (O2) and sugar – food for the plants that
later becomes food for animals. In large bodies of water, like the oceans, plants are
limited by the depth to which sunlight can penetrate (an average of 76 meters).

Light conditions vary from place to place in the same way as organism species
vary in places with bright or dim supply of light. Deep valleys, forest floors, or the
sides of a hill are places where organisms with low light requirement can stay. Some
examples of plants here are ferns and mosses, while examples of animals may be the
snails, toads, salamanders, and snakes.

More common plants or animals which need full sunlight thrive in open fields,
mountain slopes, deserts, and other exposed places.

Some animals are capable of living in total darkness. Blind fishes with empty
sockets, where their evolutionary ancestors had eyes, survive in the darkness of the
ocean floor in the Philippine Deep and in the underground streams and rivers in
Palawan.

Other organisms, like bacteria, live without light. They simply survive by the
food and energy they store.

The presence and absence of light dictate the activities animals. Some animals
such as owls are active during nighttime, so they are called nocturnal organisms.
Those that are active during daytime are called diurnal organisms.

Temperature

Temperature is an abiotic factor that is strongly influenced by sunlight. The

tilting of the earth’s axis contributes to the unequal distribution of temperature over
the earth’s surface. The poles are tilted toward the sun and away from it, that is why

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there are places which have four seasons-summer, autumn, winter, and spring.
When the earth is titled toward the sun, the days get warmer and longer.
Temperature plays an important role for animals that cannot regulate their
own body temperature, such as reptiles. Unlike humans, whose normal body
temperature is usually around 37C, reptiles (such as snakes and lizards) cannot
maintain a constant body temperature. Reptiles are usually found in warm regions
around the planet. To regulate their body temperatures, reptiles will sun themselves
on rocks, which absorb heat from sunlight and then radiate heat back into the
environment.

Aside from hazardous effects of extreme temperatures, warm and cold

seasonal temperatures can also influence living things in many different ways.

➢ Various plant functions and behaviors like blossoming of flowers, seed

germination, pollination, and plant dormancy are influenced by temperature.
➢ Organisms must cope with the changes in temperature in order to survive.
Coping sometimes means entering a period of inactivity called the dormant
stage. In colder months, some plants as well as animals become inactive and
hibernate. Hibernation is dormancy during winter. In summer, organisms
estivate. Estivation is a period of summer inactivity.
➢ Some animals cope with temperature changes by moving out of a place or
area. Bird migration is an example. Birds may become summer, winter,
temporary, or permanent residents in certain places as they migrate.
➢ Places affected by long, harsh winters, some animals develop fats as food
reserves and grow thicker fur to keep them warm.

Water

Most of our planet’s surface is covered with water. Within a small range in
temperature, water exists in three states: as solid, as gas, or as liquid water that is
free flowing.

Water is essential to life on Earth. Most plants need access to a continuous

source of water-without access to water for a long period, growth will be stunted and
eventually most plants will wither and die.

Water availability is affected by climate, frequency of rainfall, relative

humidity, wind direction, and temperatures. The amount of water in an area dictates
what plants will grow in the area and also the number and types of consumers that
can be supported. Tropical areas experience high precipitation which is why plenty
of plants thrive in them. Desert areas have little precipitation and support less
vegetation.

The availability of water greatly affects the distribution of animals too. The wet
and dry seasons in some areas causes great migrations of animals seeking for food
and water.

Water in its liquid form also provides the powerful erosional force that shapes
the landscape.

Atmosphere

The air surrounding us has an important effect on living things. With the
exception of anaerobic bacteria (species of bacteria that can survive without the

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presence of air) and a few other organisms, all living things must obtain free oxygen
(O2) for life.
Land dwellers obtain oxygen directly from the atmosphere; water dwellers
obtain their supply from the oxygen dissolved in water where they live. However,
deep-ocean life does not receive the same supply of oxygen as the other aquatic forms
of life. Since water receives its supply of oxygen from air, the oxygen content of water
decreases as water goes deeper.

Plants and animals that live in the soil are most abundant near the surface,
because the depth at which life would still be possible is partly limited by food and
oxygen supply.

Air movement in the atmosphere also influence the ecosystem. Obviously,

strong winds will destroy lives and accelerate the rate of water evaporation.
Dessication (condition of dryness) will eventually affect survival of organisms.
Likewise, strong winds may bend tree branches, reduce the size of leaves, and
increase or expand the root systems. It also plays a role in the dispersal of pollens
that can fertilize nearby plants and in the dispersal of spores and seed so they can
spread and germinate in other places.

Strong and steady winds also affect the environment for it can remove and
erode the topsoil in places that are denuded of plant life. They also serve as agents
in the spread of dirt and pathogens from the exposed soil particles that they picked
up contaminating the entire vegetation in the area.

2. Edaphic Factors

Edaphic factors pertain to the soil characteristics like composition, texture,

structure, density, and mineral content, determine what organisms can live there,
and which plants can grow.

The type of soil and the amount of nutrients present in the soil can influence
the abundance of plants that can live in it. Soil rich in organic matter or humus can
support plenty of organisms. Soil on forest grounds is rich in organic matter.

Soil pH pertains to the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. Soil pH affects the
availability of minerals needed for plant growth and development. Some plant species
grow well in acidic soil (pH below 7), while some plant species grow well in basic or
alkaline soil (pH above 7).

3. Physiographic Factors

Physiographic factors pertain to the physical nature of the land surface or its
topography (altitude and slopes).

• Topography is the feature of the surface of the land that exist in the ecosystem:
rolling hills, rocky areas, gullies, cliffs, and flat plains. Diverse topography
provides for the variety of plants and animals that inhabit the area. As the
altitude or elevation changes, the type of vegetation also changes. As the
altitude increases, the temperature becomes cooler and the chance of rainfall
is higher.
• Changes in the earth’s physical features are brought about by erosion (loss of
soil by the action of wind or water), volcanic eruption, earthquakes, typhoons,

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 and floods. Because of these changes, environments change, too and so do
plants and animals present there. They may survive, migrate, perish, or be
replaced by others that will be more suited to the conditions left.

Explore

To strengthen your understanding of the topic, perform the following activities.

Activity 2: Siamese Puzzle

Direction: Direction: Using the given word as a clue, unscramble each of the words
to get the correct term and take the letters that appear in the circles and
unscramble them for the final word/message
1. TRUEPARMEET
➢ Clue word: Hibernation
2. OLIS
➢ Clue word: Humus
3. GRAPOPHOTY
➢ Clue word: Slope
4. DWINS
➢ Clue word: Air
5. MACLITIC
➢ Clue word: Weather
6. APMOSTHERE
➢ Clue word: Oxygen
7. GLITH
➢ Clue word: Photosynthesis
8. TAWER
➢ Clue word: Precipitation
9. DEPHICA
➢ Clue word: Soil
Final Word
Clue: It is a biological community interacting with its nonliving environment.

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Activity 3: Describe Me!
Direction: Given the different abiotic factors of an ecosystem, describe the
importance of each component. Put your answers in the specific column in the
table below.

Abiotic Factors Importance

1. Atmosphere

2. Light

3. Soil

4. Temperature

5. Topography

6. Water

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 Deepen

Activity 4: The Influencer!

Direction: Use the illustration below to answer the guide questions.

Figure 1. Grassland Ecosystem

1. Looking at the illustration of the grassland ecosystem above, identify some of the
abiotic factors shown in the image.
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Do these abiotic factors affect the grassland ecosystem? How?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. The temperature is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem. What can affect the
temperature in the grassland ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Another abiotic factor which affects ecosystem is the slope of the land. For
example, is it flat or are there hills or mountains. How would you describe the land
in the grassland ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. How do you think this contour affects the ecosystem?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 5: What If?

1. Read and understand the context on the box. Answer the question that follows.

During the rainy season, a lot of puddles are formed. These temporary
ponds may have a community of mosquito larvae, tadpoles, snails, or
frogs. After some time, the pond may dry up and the abiotic
conditions can no longer support the community.

Q1. What do you think will happen to the community living in it?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

2. Read the scenario below. Answer the questions that follow.

Imagine what would happen if an ancient tree in a forest was cut

down.

Q2. Where will the organisms living in that tree go? How about the plants and
animals on the path where the tree fell?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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Q3. What will be the effect of sunlight into the interior through the space formerly
occupied by the tree canopy?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q4. What would happen to the topsoil when it rains or when a strong wind blows?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Q5. What will happen to the rain water in the absence of big trees?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Gauge

Multiple Choice: Read each item carefully. Write the letter of the correct answer in
the space provided before each number.
____1. A plant needs oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, minerals, and water to survive.
This situation shows that an organism depends on ____.
A. abiotic factors C. social factors
B. biotic factors D. symbiotic relationship
____2. Which of the following describes the abiotic components of an ecosystem?
A. It comprises the group of plants and animals in a particular area.
B. It includes all the nonliving elements of the ecosystem.
C. It pertains to the living component of an ecosystem.
D. It refers to a group of organism of the same kind.
____3. Which of the following abiotic factor is known to be the main source of
energy?
A. Light B. Temperature C. Topography D. Water
____4. A group of organism leaves an ecosystem because of the decreased
temperature and increase precipitation. Which best explains why the group
of organism left?
A. an increase of predation C. a decrease in prey
B. a change in abiotic factors D. a change in biotic factors
____5. Various plant functions and behavior like seed germination, blossoming of
flowers, pollination and plant dormancy are greatly influenced by ____.
A. atmosphere B. light C. temperature D. water
____6. During a long time when rainfall is not experienced in a mountain, a wild boar
temporarily leave its usual place to drink from a farm pond. What is probably
the reason of such behavior?
A. the change in an abiotic factor in its environment
B. the change in a biotic factor in its environment
C. the need to find different foods to eat
D. the need to find a new environment

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____7. What makes the light an important abiotic factor in an ecosystem?
A. It contributes to the unequal distribution of temperature over the earth’s
surface.
B. It plays a role in the spreading of pollens and seeds in other places.
C. It provides the erosional force that shapes the landscape.
D. It is necessary in the production of food by the plants.
____8. Desert areas experience little precipitation that means _____.
A. many organisms are existing there C. support more plant life
B. limited vegetation will thrive there D. plenty of plants will grow in them
____9. Which of the following is NOT an effect of strong winds in an ecosystem?
A. It can remove and erode the topsoil in places that are denuded.
B. It plays a role in the dispersal of spores and seeds in other places.
C. It supports the light requirement in the area.
D. It accelerates the rate of water evaporation.
____10. The type of soil and amount of nutrients present in the soil can influence____.
A. the number and types of animals or consumers
B. the abundance of plants that can live in it
C. the different activities of animals
D. the migration of some animals
____11. You are task to find an organism that requires full sunlight exposure. What
place or area are you going to?
A. forest floor B. ocean floor C. open fields D. shady places
____12. Changes in the earth’s physical features or topography are caused by____.
A. behavior and function of plants C. erosion, floods, and earthquakes
B. different animal activities D. hibernation of some animals
____13. What happens to the supply of dissolved oxygen as water goes deeper in
marine ecosystems?
A. The oxygen content of water decreases and then increases after some time.
B. The oxygen content of water remains the same.
C. The oxygen content of water decreases.
D. The oxygen content of water increases.
____14. What is the importance of soil pH?
A. The soil pH affects the availability of minerals needed for plant growth.
B. The soil pH affects the air movement in the atmosphere.
C. The soil pH affects the animals that inhabit the area.
D. The soil pH affects the fishes in marine ecosystems.
____15. The availability of water affects the distribution of animals. The wet and dry
seasons in some areas causes ____.
A. the animals to migrate seeking for food and water
B. the animals to obtain enough supply of sunlight
C. the animals to get plenty of free oxygen for life
D. the animals to stay in their habitat

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 10
Activity 1: Siamese Puzzle
1.
T E E M P E R A T U R E
2.
S O I L
3.
T O P O G R A P H Y
4.
W I N D S
5.
C L I M A T I C
6.
A T M O S P H E R E
7.
L I G H T
8.
W A T E R
9.
E D A P H I C
Final Word
E C O S Y S T E M
GAUGE PRE – TEST
1. A 11. C 1. B 11. B
2. B 12. C 2. D 12. D
3. A 13. C 3. D 13. A
Activity 1: Rotate Me! 4. B 14. A 4. A 14. B
1. LIGHT 5. C 15. A 5. B 15. C
2. WATER 6. A 6. D
3. SOIL 7. D 7. C
4. TEMPERATURE 8. B 8. D
5. WIND 9. C 9. B
6. TOPOGRAPHY 10. B 10. B
Answer Key
References
Integrated Science Textbook. Quezon City. Vibal Publishing House, Inc., 2004
Allas, I. M.; Espinosa, A.; Lorenzo, A.; and Bonifacio, N. (2013). Discover Science.
University Press of First Asia
Capco, Carmelita M. and Gilbert C. Yang. Biology. Quezon City. Phoenix Publishing
House, Inc., 2000
Caoibes, Efrene P. Practical Science. Batangas. United Eferza Academic
Publications Co. 2012
Lianko, Aurora A. Exploring Science & Technology I. Pasig City. Anvil Publishing,
Inc. 2004
Madriaga, E; Valdoz, M; Aquino, M; Apolinario, N. (2017).Science Links. Rex
Bookstore, Inc.

https://intl.siyavula.com/read/science/grade-8/interactions-and-
interdependence-within-the-environment/02-interactions-and-interdependence-
within-the-environment?id=toc-id-9
https://sciencing.com/definition-abiotic-biotic-factors-8259629.html
https://sciencing.com/abiotic-biotic-factors-ecosystems-7146052.html
https://peabody.yale.edu/sites/.../Abiotic%20and%20Biotic%20Factors%20DF
.doc
https://biologydictionary.net/biotic-abiotic-factors/

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