SCIENCE 7

Second Quarter – Module 5B

Biotic Components of an
Ecosystem

Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines

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Science – Grade 7
Alternative Delivery Mode
Second Quarter – Module 2: Components of an Ecosystem
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education – Region 10

Regional Director: Dr. Arturo B. Bayocot, CESO III
Assistant Regional Director: Dr. Victor G. De Gracia Jr., CESO V
Development Team of the Module
Author/s: Sheriel Riah D. Inao
Reviewers: Marecel B. Compania Shalome H. Balignot Myla M. Guillena
Ivan M. Guillena Sydney G. Limitares Corason A. Baluyos
Evaluators: Patria Gloria P. Iman Marissa M. Olarte Rolando T. Luna
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Chairperson: Dr. Arturo B. Bayocot, CESO III
Regional Director

Co-Chairpersons: Dr. Victor G. De Gracia Jr. CESO V

Asst. Regional Director

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E-mail Address: [email protected]

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 7
SCIENCE
Second Quarter – Module 5B
Biotic Components of an
Ecosystem

This instructional material was collaboratively developed and reviewed by

educators from public schools. We encourage teachers and other education
stakeholders to email their feedback, comments, and recommendations to the
Department of Education – Region 10 at region10@ deped.gov.ph.

Your feedback and recommendations are highly valued.

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 Introductory Message
Department of Education ● Republic of the Philippines
For the Learner

Try to close your eyes and imagine you are outside. What do you see? What
do you feel? Do you see people walking on the street under the sun? Do you see
children playing under the rain? Can you hear the sound of birds singing or the
sound of vehicles running on the street? What you are imagining are the things you
would?

The things that we see and the things that we feel once we are outside are
part of our environment. We may refer environment as a collection of living
organisms in their natural habitat under certain environmental conditions. You
learned from your previous year that the environment is made up of living and non-
living things.

This module will provide you essential tasks so that you’ll be able to identify
the living components (biotic components) that is present in the environment.

In this module, you are guided with a set of learning icons that will help you
understand identify components of an ecosystem.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This gives you an idea of the skills or

competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to check

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

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link the

current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be introduced

to you in various ways such as a story, a song, a
poem, a problem opener, an activity or a
situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent practice

to solidify your understanding and skills of the
topic. You may check the answers to the

5i
 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 in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will help

you transfer your new knowledge or skill into real
life situations or concerns.

Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of

mastery in achieving the learning competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity is given to you to

enrich your knowledge or skill of the lesson
learned. This also tends retention of learned
concepts.

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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 Table of Contents
Introductory Message …………………..... i
Table of Contents …………………..... iii
What I Need to Know .............................. 1
What I Know ............................... 2
What’s In ............................... 3
What’s New …............................ 3
What is It ……………………. 4
Introduction to Biotic Component ……………………. 4
Producer ……………………. 4
Consumer ……………………. 4
Decomposer ……………………. 5
What’s More: Self-assessment ……….................... 7
What I Have Learned ............................... 8
What I Can Do .............................. 8
Assessment ................................ 9
Additional Activities ............................... 9
Answer Key ................................ 11
References ............................... 12

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 What I Need to know

As you look around our surroundings you see birds chirping on the branches
of trees, dogs playing on the grass, worms crawling on the dirt, and fishes swimming
in the river. Living organisms are dependent with one another provided with the right
non-living part of the environment.

Human beings and other living organisms survive because of the non-living
components that are present in the environment. Living and non-living components
of the environment work together as a single unit. This unit is called an ecosystem.
The ecosystem is part of the biosphere that contains life. Human beings and other
animals need O2 (oxygen) to breathe (oxygen is a physical component of the
environment); plants need sunlight to make their own food. The non-living and living
component of an ecosystem work hand in hand to maintain the circle of life.

After reading this module, you should be able to differentiate biotic and abiotic
components of an ecosystem. (S7LT-llh-9)

Specifically you are also expected to:

1. identify living organisms found in an ecosystem;

2. classify the biotic components (producer, consumer, and decomposer)
present in an environment; and
3. recognize the importance of biotic components in an ecosystem.

In going through this module, you will enjoy while learning with interactive
activities that you are going to complete. Read with comprehension the texts inside
this module to fully understand the concepts. Activities will be given to test your
understanding and follow the directions in the activities. Carefully answer the entire
given test and exercises and write your answers in your science activity notebook.

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 What I Know

Before starting with this module, let us see what you already know about the
ecosystem. Read carefully the instruction before answering.

Directions: Look at the illustration below. Write down the living things that you can
see from the illustration in your science activity notebook.

Lesso
n Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

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Lesso Differentiating Abiotic and Biotic
n Components

Lesso Differentiating Abiotic and Biotic

n Components

Lesso Differentiating Abiotic and Biotic

n Components

Lesso
Figure 1. Ecosystem Biotic Components of an Ecosystem
Source: (cdn.zmescience.com n.d.)

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 n

What’s In

You learned in the previous years that living and non-living things of an
ecosystem interact with one another. Living things refer to the living components of
an ecosystem such as plants, trees, and animals. Whereas, non-living things are the
physical components such as the water, sunlight, temperature and the like.

Directions: Identify whether the following words below are living or non-living. Write
your answer in your science activity notebook.

Sunlight Tree
Cat Soil
Grasshopper Grass

What’s New

Activity 1: Read and Find

Directions: Identify and write the living things mentioned in the fable. Write your
answer in your science activity notebook.

THE
‘I am ANT AND
helping to THE
lay upGRASSHOPPER
food for the drought,’ said the Ant, ‘and recommend you to do
the same.’
In the field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and
singing to its about
‘Why bother heart’sdrought?’
content. said
An ant
thepassed by, bearing
Grasshopper; alonggot
we have with greatoftoil
plenty fooda grain
at
of rice he was taking to the nest.
present.’ But the ant went on his way and continued his hard labour. When the
drought came the Grasshopper had no food and found himself dying of hunger, while
‘Why not come and play with me,’ said the Grasshopper, ‘instead of doing hard
he saw the ants distributing everyday grain of rice from the food that they collected
labour lifting that grain of rice?’
before the drought. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of
necessity.

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Source: [ CITATION Aes \l 13321 ]

What is it?

Living organisms are all things on earth that have lives, like the tress, plants,
animals, including YOU! They are called biotic components. Bio comes from the
Greek word bios which means life. It literally refers to living organism.

Biotic components are the living things which help shape an ecosystem.
They affect another organisms, either as consumers or producers. Each biotic factor
needs energy to do the work, food for proper growth and human influence.

Biotic components include:

1. PRODUCERS (Autotrophs):

 Organisms that can make their own food by converting the energy from the
sun into food. Example: Plants
 Producers are called energy transducers. They convert solar energy into
chemical energy, with the help of organic and inorganic substances.
 The producers are called as autotrophic (auto = self; troph = nourishing)
organisms, these are organisms that can make their own food.
 They are capable of synthesizing food from non-living inorganic compounds.
 They are largely represented by green plants on land (trees, grasses, crops)
and phytoplanktons on water.

2. CONSUMERS (Heterotrophs):

 Organisms that cannot make their own food; they depend upon producers for
food. Example: animals
 Consumers are the organisms that feed on other organisms to survive. They
consume the food materials prepared by the producers (autotrophs). Hence,
consumers are called as heterotrophic organisms.
 Depending upon their food habits, consumers are classified into primary,
secondary and tertiary consumers.
 The PRIMARY CONSUMERS solely feed on plants. Herbivores are plant
eaters - grasshopper, rabbit, goat, sheep – these animals are primary
consumers.
 The SECONDARY CONSUMERS feed on some primary consumers.

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 o Carnivores - are flesh eaters. Example: Hawks ,Tiger and Lion
o Omnivores (Biophages) - eat both plants and animal flesh. Example:
cockroaches, fox, humans

Secondary consumers are those which predate on primary consumers.

 TERTIARY CONSUMERS are the predators of predators. They are mostly

larger animals. Example: A snake eats a rabbit, and the snake was eaten by
an eagle.

3. DECOMPOSERS (Detritus):

 Decompose or break down chemicals from producers and consumers into

simpler form which can be reused. Example: bacteria and fungi
 They are also called as micro consumers. They depend on dead organic
matter for their food. They are chiefly microorganisms like bacteria and
fungi. They break the complex organic matter found in plant and animal
bodies, and release simple substances. These substances will be used by
autotrophs once again.
 Earthworms use these dead organic matter for their food. They are called as
secondary decomposer.

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 Figure 2. Biotic Components of an Ecosystem

Source: [ CITATION Fre20 \l 13321 ] This

illustration shows the relationship between producers, consumers, and

decomposers. The producer that is the tree, produces food for primary consumers
like the squirrel in the figure above. The secondary consumer that is the wolf eats the
primary consumer. Once the primary and secondary consumers die, their bodies will
decompose. The decomposition process takes place in the presence of bacteria and
other microorganisms.
The interactions between various biotic components are necessary for the
survival and reproduction of each species.

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 What’s More

Activity 2: The Arrow Points to What?

Directions: In this picture, identify the producers, primary consumer, secondary

consumer and decomposer. Write your answers in your notebook.

2.
4.

3.
5.

1.

Figure 3. Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem

Source: (Biology Online 2001-2020)

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 What I Have Learned

Directions: Read the paragraph below and fill in the correct word/phrase from the
word pool. Write your answer in your science activity notebook.

decomposers biotic components producers consumers ecosystem

T h e e n v i r o n m
things are also known as 2__________. These components include 3__________ or
autotrophs that can make their own food by converting energy coming from the sun
into food. 4__________ or heterotrophs are organisms that depend on other
organisms for food. An example is a goat eating a grass. The other organisms that
can decay or decompose other living organisms by breaking down chemicals into
simpler forms are called 5__________.

What I Can Do

Go outside your house and try to look at and observe your surroundings. What do
you see? What plants and animals interact with one another?

Directions: Draw an ecosystem that is present in your area in your science activity
notebook and label the organisms as 1) producer, 2) consumer, 3) decomposer.

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 Assessment

Activity 4 Identify Life

Directions: Classify the following biotic components inside the box as producer,
consumer, or decomposer. Copy the table below and write your answer in your
science activity notebook.

Bacteria Spider
Carabao Goat
Grasshopper Fungi
Bird Coconut Tree
Mango Tree Banana

Additional Activities

Activity 5: Knowing the Importance

Directions: Write down in your science activity notebook a paragraph of the

importance of biotic components to the ecosystem.

Criteria Expert Accomplished Capable Beginner

(5pts) (4pts) (3pts) (2pts)
Content The ideas are The ideas are The ideas are The ideas
significantly relevant to the slightly are close to
relevant to the topic. relevant to the the topic.
topic. topic.
Organization The The sentences The sentences The
and Style sentences are are slightly are slightly sentences
organized and organized and organized and are not
coherent. coherence is lacks organized
slightly coherence. and lacks
observed. coherence.
Grammar and There are no There are a few Grammatical Most of the
Spelling grammatical (one to three) errors exceeds sentences

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 errors and grammatical three and a contains
incorrect errors and no few incorrect grammatical
spellings. incorrect spellings. error and a
spellings. lot of
incorrect
spellings.

Congratulations! You have successfully completed Module 5B. Please proceed

to the next module and learn to differentiate Abiotic Component from Biotic
Component of an Ecosystem.

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 11
What I know
Source: (cdn.zmescience.com n.d.)
Answer Key
 Bacteria Decomposer Spider Consumer
Carabao Consumer Goat Consumer
Grasshopper Consumer Fungi Decomposer
Bird Consumer Coconut Tree Producer
Mango Tree Producer Banana Producer

What’s More
What I Have Learned
1. Primary Consumer
Activity 4 Assessment
1. ecosystem
2. Producer
2. biotic components
3. Secondary Consumer
3. producers
4. Tertiary Consumer
4. consumer
5. Decomposer
5. decomposer

What’s In
What’s New
Sunlight Non-living Tree Living
1. Grasshopper Cat Living Soil Non-living
Grasshoppe Living Grass Living
2. Ant r
3. Rice

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 References

BOOKS

Aesop. "The Ant and the Grasshopper." In Aesop's Fables, by Aesop, 40. n.d.

Balasubramanian, A.. "Ecosystem and Its Components." ResearchGate 1-3. 2017.

Kormondy, Edward J.. "Concepts of Ecology 4th Edition." In Concepts of Ecology 4th
Edition, by Edward J. Kormondy, 9. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Prentice Hall. 1996.

Primack , Richard B.. "Essentials of Conservation Biology: Third Edition." In

Essentials of Conservation Biology: Third Edition, by Richard B Primack, 4-10.
Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publishers. 2002.

Tansley, A.G. "The Use and Abuse of vegetation Concepts and Terms. Ecology."
299-304. 1935.

ELECTRONICS

Biology Online. 2001-2020. www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/ecosystem (accessed

June 16, 2020).

n.d. cdn.zmescience.com. https://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-

content/uploads/2018/03/D095D0BAD0BED0BBD0BED0B3D0B8D187D0BD
D0BE_D180D0B0D0B2D0BDD0BED0B2D0B5D181D0B8D0B53.jpg .
(Accessed May 19, 2020)

Freepik. n.d. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/infographic-ecosystem-

concept-with-tree_2640556.htm#page=1&query=ecosystem&position=1.
(Accessed May 19, 2020)

Freitas, Deb. 2014. WyoBio Middle School Biodiversity Unit.

http://wyobio.org/education/middle-school-biodiversity-unit/. (Accessed May
18, 2020)

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education – Region 10

Zone 1, DepEd Building Masterson Avenue, Upper Balulang

Cagayan de Oro City, 9000
Telefax: (088) 880 7072
E-mail Address: [email protected]
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