SCIENCE 7

ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM

WEEK 3-4
Self-Learning Module
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THIS MODULE

Learning Competency:
 It describes the concepts of an ecosystem specifically its abiotic components.
 It helps you understand the importance of abiotic components of an ecosystem.

Topic:
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:
a. identify the different abiotic components of an ecosystem;
b. identify the effect of changes in the abiotic factors on the ecosystem;
c. describe how the abiotic factors affect living organisms;
d. evaluate the effect of changes in the abiotic factors on the ecosystem; and
e. recognize the importance of abiotic components in an ecosystem.

DISCUSSION:
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
Abiotic Components are non–living things which have important roles in the survival of the living organism in an ecosystem.
The most important abiotic components are the following:

Water
 Water is life.
 All living things need water.
 50% of most living thing is composed of water.
 It is considered as universal solvent since it dissolves
other substances.
 It carries nutrients to cells and wastes away from them.
Sunlight
 It is the main source of energy on Earth.
 It is necessary for the process of photosynthesis.
 Animals ang plants could not survive without the sun.
 It plays an important role in the production of oxygen
and to an area’s temperature.

Air
 Humans, plants and animals will not be able to survive
withour air.
 It is a mixture of clear gases like oxygen gas (O2),
cabonr dioxide (CO2), nitrogen gas (N2), hydrogen gas
(H2) and etc. that we breathe.
Soil
 It is made up of small particles of rock mixed with
decomposed living things like animals.
 It is where the plants get their water and nutrients for
growth and development.
 Its composition varies from one place to another.

Temperature
 It is an abiotic factor which is influenced by the sunlight.
 It varies from one location to another.
 All plants and animals survive between a minimum or
maximum amount of temperature e.g. a Polar Bear
cannot live in a dessert.
 Influences which plants or animals can live in an area.
Importance of Abiotic Components to an Ecosystem
According to the National Geographic Resource Library (2020), many abiotic factors- non-living physical and chemical aspects
of an environment, such as sunlight levels, soil chemistry, and climate- shape healthy ecosystems.
Animals and plants are dependable on abiotic factors in the ecosystem. Abiotic factors should be just right in order for life to
thrive. There are also some plants and animal which require a particular set of abiotic factors to survive.

Can you imagine a carabao living in a polar region? The polar region lacks the abiotic factors that are needed by the carabao
to survive like the temperature in a tropical area. Just like animals and plants, humans also require certain abiotic factors to survive. We
need oxygen which is present in the air for our body. Also, earth’s atmosphere acts as shield against the ultraviolet rays from the sun.
Ecosystems change overtime therefore the abiotic factors of the ecosystem also change. For example, the acidity of the sea
has increased and some fishes are not able to adapt, hence; these fishes suffer. We also learned to change the abiotic factors in our
environment like cloud seeding to modify the weather condition. Another example is the rising temperature in our planet due to climate
change. Polar bears in the cold region find it difficult to survive since the icebergs are melting.
Therefore, the abiotic components should not be altered for the living organism to live and survive in their environments.
Human beings should take good care of the biotic and abiotic components in the ecosystem.

EFFECT OF CHANGES IN THE ABIOTIC FACTORS ON THE ECOSYSTEM

AIR POLLUTION
Air is an invisible mixture of gases (such as nitrogen and oxygen) that surrounds the Earth. Without air, plants, animals, and
humans will not survive. However, as time goes by, the quality of air changes, due to the increasing population, vehicles, growing
number of factories and establishments, continuous burning of plastics and other garbage, resulting to pollution. Air pollution is the
introduction of materials into the atmosphere that produces adverse effects especially to humans and their daily activities.
SOIL POLLUTION
Soil is the basic medium for land base ecosystem where plants grow and some organisms live. It provides plant with essential
nutrients, minerals, and humus from decayed plants and animals. Human activity is the number one contributing factor like throwing
and burning plastic containing garbage, pollute the soil by making it acidic. The soil and the plastics contain compounds like nitrates
(NO3), phosphates (PO4) and potassium (K). When there is overproduction of these compounds, the soil becomes acidic. Also,
burning of woods and grasses loss the organic matter (topsoil), making the soil dry and not suitable for planting.

EXTREME ATMOSPHERIC HEAT

Sun is the main source of energy. But, when there is too much heat coming from the sun, what will happen to the plants and
animals? Without sunlight also, what will happen to the living organisms? Humans have become the biggest source of change. The act
of cutting down or burning of trees (deforestation), dumping of waste materials anywhere, using plastic products over reusable
materials, and over population are practices of man which causes an extreme atmospheric heat.

DEATH TO LIVING ORGANISMS

An increase or decrease of the temperature has an impact on organisms living on earth. Despite having adaptive abilities to
suit with the kind of ecosystems organisms are dwelling, a change of temperature limits reproduction and survival rate. Therefore,
organisms must cope with the change in temperature in order to survive.
WATER POLLUTION
This is essential to life on Earth, however, when the quality and quantity changes due to natural and man-made disturbances,
greater problems have been produced, such as:
1. diseases from infectious organisms carried by the water like cholera, dysentery, and amoebiasis;
2. growth of plankton (small plant and animal life in bodies of water like seas and lakes), resulting to less dissolved oxygen
which may threatened the water organisms;
3. toxic chemicals are carried by the water making it harmful for both biotic and abiotic organisms in the water.

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 4 th 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)
Prepared by: Checked by: Reviewed by:

CATHLYN O. RANARIO RHONA MAE S. ERAZO LUZ L. ESPERA

Secondary Teacher SCIENCE 8 Teacher School Principal
Name of Student: ______________________________________ Teacher: CATHLYN O. RANARIO
Year/Section: _________________________________________
Parents’ Name and Signature: ____________________________

NOTE: PLEASE SUBMIT THESE ACTIVITY SHEETS ON AUGUST 30, 2021

Activity 1
A. DIRECTIONS: Match the abiotic components in Column A with its description in Column B.
Column A Column B
1. Water a. it is where plants get their nutrients and water

2. Sunlight b. an abiotic factor which is influenced by the sunlight

3. Soil c. carries nutrients to cells and wastes away from them

4. Air d. necessary for the process of photosynthesis

5. Temperature e. used by the cell as an energy source which enables the cell to carry out
important functions for growth and development.

B. DIRECTIONS: Complete the statements in the paragraph by writing the appropriate word/s in the blank. Refer to the word box
below.

POLLUTION HARM QUALITY

WATER FACTORIES CHANGE
POPULATION QUANTITY SUFFER
SOIL TEMPERATURE AIR

Abiotic factors will undergo __________(1.)__________ . So, whether we like it or not, we are part, along with nature
of this change, and if we will not do something, then, we will ____________(2.)_____________ such change. As time goes
by, the ___________(3.)__________ and __________(4.)__________ of air, __________(5.)__________ , sunlight,
temperature, and ___________(6.)____________ changes. The following reasons caused abiotic factors to change;
increasing ___________(7.)__________ , vehicles, growing number of _________(8.)_________ and establishments, natural
disturbances like typhoons, earthquakes and landslides, man-made disturbances such as logging, mining and quarrying. As a
result, ____________(9.)____________ in the air, soil and water take place, _________(10.)_________ and even death to
biotic organisms in the ecosystem.

Activity 2
A. DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions.

1. How is it impossible for a polar bear to live in the Philippines?

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2. Can an earthworm live in a soil full of harmful chemicals? Why?

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 B. Directions: From the pictures in Figure 1, write at least five (5) observations about the picture (No. 1 is done for you.)

1. Smoke is coming out of the chimneys of a factory.

2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Activity 3
Directions: Answer the following questions correctly.

Abiotic components are very important because _____________________________________________________________

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Prepared by: Checked by: Reviewed by:

CATHLYN O. RANARIO RHONA MAE S. ERAZO LUZ L. ESPERA
Secondary Teacher SCIENCE 8 Teacher School Principal