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Earth and Life Science

Quarter 2 – Module 9D
INTERACTION AND INTERDEPENDENCE
LESSON 4 HUMANITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

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Science – Grade 11
Quarter 2 – Module 9D: INTERACTION AND INTERDEPENDENCE
LESSON 4 HUMANITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Republic Act 8293, section 176 states that: No copyright shall subsist in any work
of the Government of the Philippines. However, prior approval of the government agency or
office wherein the work is created shall be necessary for exploitation of such work for profit.
Such agency or office may, among other things, impose as a condition the payment of
royalties.

Borrowed materials
trademarks, etc.) included in
effort has been exerted to
respective copyright owners.
over them.
(i.e., songs, stories, poems, pictures, photos, brand names,
this book are owned by their respective copyright holders. Every
locate and seek permission to use these materials from their
The publisher and authors do not represent nor claim ownership

Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin

Development Team of the Module

Writer: JONESS P. SADANG
Editors: HELEN Z. CORNELIO
IRENE V. DE JESUS
MARISOL D. ANDRADA
Reviewers: HELEN Z. CORNELIO
IRENE V. DE JESUS
MARISOL D. ANDRADA

Layout Artist: JASON O. SALVADORA

Cover Illustration: RAYMOND T. TORALDE

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MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY

Categorize the different biotic

potential and environmental
resistance (e.g. diseases,
availability of food, and predators)
that affect population explosion.
S11/12LT-IVhj-29

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 Supplementary Learning Module for Senior High School Learners

LESSON 4 (9D)
HUMANITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Humans interact with the world around us every day, but

some of our actions are more harmful than others. As
BEGIN our population approaches 7 billion people, the effects of
human activities on the ecosystem, including the water,
air, land and the life we share the world with, are almost
immeasurable.

In this module, you will learn about the Interaction and Interdependence in an
Ecosystem including human activities that affects the Ecosystem and the
environment.

This module will help you understand

concepts and enjoy different learning
activities.

At the end of this module, it is expected that

you be able to:

1. Cite human activities that affect the

ecosystem.

2. Identify and enumerate the positive and

negative impacts of human activities to
the ecosystem.
https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/male_teacher.html

Direction: The following are examples of human

activities that affect our ecosystem. Tell whether it
has a POSITIVEor NEGATIVE effect by putting (/)
TRY THIS!
marks on the column which corresponds your
answer.

HUMAN ACTIVITIES POSITIVE NEGATIVE

1. Reforestation
2. Improper waste disposal
3. Crop rotation
4. Use of fresheners and aerosols sprays
5. Use of explosives in fishing
6. Taking public transportation
7. Mining industry
8. Biking or walking
9. Washing clothes in rivers
10. Deforestation

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 Hi! How do you find the test?

Please check your answers at the answer key

section and see how you did. Don’t worry if you got
a low score, this just means that there are more
things that you can learn from this module.
https://www.123rf.com/clipart-vector/male_teacher.html

DO THIS!

Direction: Choose one activity you are fond of doing which you think can be related to
environment. Explain what makes you interested in doing such activity. Your response must
not be below 200 words.

EXPLORE

ACTIVITY 1: TELL ME!

A. Directions:Study the given picture below. Write your own thoughts about the
picture on the space provided.

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 ACTIVITY 2: THINK AND SHARE!
B. Directions: From the activity 1. How are you going to participate in preventing
this kind of environmental scenarios? Explain briefly.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTIONS

Humans interact with the world around us

every day, but some of our actions are more
harmful than others. As our population approaches 7 billion people, the effects of
human activities on the ecosystem, including the water, air, land and the life that
we share the world with, are almost immeasurable.

Pollution is the primary and basic cause why the environment and particularly the
ecosystem suffer too much destruction. Polluting the environment is polluting the
abiotic components of the ecosystem. Without the abiotic components, the biotic
components will not be able to survive, thus, ending life as we know it. Remember
also that humans are affected by pollution. Pollution is altering or adding substances
that harm the environment. Aside from pollution, another cause of ecological
destruction is wildlife depletion through deforestation in terrestrial ecosystem and
coral reef destruction in the aquatic ecosystem.

Air Pollution
One of the most important abiotic components is the air. Most living organisms
require air in the form of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide to sustain their
life mechanisms. Human activities like burning of fossil fuels, smoke from factories,
and even the gas used by stoves for cooking release sulfur oxides (SO2), nitrogen
oxides (NO2), and sometimes lead oxides (PbO). These gases are colorless but
when combined to one another, they turn into smog making our air very polluted.

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When such substances are inhaled, they can cause illnesses like cough and cold
which can lead to tuberculosis and lung cancer. Some plant species also die with
polluted air.

1. Ozone depletion is a type of air pollution wherein the ozone gas (O 3)

naturally builds up in the atmosphere – (ozone layer). This usually happens
when the substance called chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) reacts to the ozone
molecules producing oxygen (O2). CFC is usually Freon and other
halocarbons that are used as coolers and refrigerants for air conditioning units
and refrigerators, respectively. The ozone layer protects our planet from
ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun. When UV radiation reaches the
surface of our planet its primary effect on organisms is cancer and genetic
mutations.
2. Acidic precipitation or acidic rain is caused by air pollution. When the
chemicals like sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides go to the atmosphere, it can
initiate chemical reaction with water vapor. When this happens, water is
turned to sulfuric acid (H2SO4). When precipitation or raining happens, the
acidic water absorbed by plants, particularly by trees in our forests, can affect
the forest. This can result in forest decline. Finally, when this acidic water is
combined to the waters in any aquatic ecosystem, it can affect many aquatic
life which results in death.

The majority of air pollution is the result of human activities. For example,
increased fossil fuel combustion from motor vehicles, industrial factories and power
plants all pump large quantities of air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, ozone
and nitrous oxides, into the atmosphere. Other air pollutants, such as lead-based
compounds, can lead to serious health effects like cancer, or other types of
reproductive effects and birth defects.

Water Pollution/Eutrophication
Water is life. Water is very important to all living systems. No organism can
live without water. However, like air, water is also being polluted. We make our
waters polluted and eutrophic (water with higher chemical contents) once we
disposed chemicals like the detergents that we use for cleaning our dishes,
fertilizers, and sewage and factory wastes. A great number of algae populations
usually grow in eutrophic waters and once they die, they undergo decomposition
where they use large amount of dissolved oxygen from water. Since oxygen is vastly
depleted (fishes uses dissolved oxygen to breathe), this will eventually result in fish
kill. This process involved is referred to as eutrophication.

One of the biggest impacts humans have on aquatic systems is excess

nutrient inputs. Nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, are essential to the health
and survival of aquatic plants and animals. However, humans introduce large
quantities of nutrients, primarily through overuse of fertilizers. Too many nutrients
can rapidlyreduce water quality by causing overgrowth of certain bacteria and
algae that use the oxygen necessary for other species to survive. Even more

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problematic is that these nutrients can be transported downstream to other
streams, rivers and bays. Therefore, nutrients can reduce water quality in places
far removed from where they were first introduced.

Deforestation
Deforestation or the removals of forests are done by humans for building
urban development and settlements. This usually happens because of the
increasing human population. Another cause of deforestation is the cultivation of
space for ranches and production of wood-related products. However, there is no
good excuse for deforestation. We have learned that the forests contain the most
diverse organisms among all terrestrial biomes. Imagine what will happen to these
organisms when a single or multiple forests are cleared. This is one of the reasons
why organisms become endangered (little population of a species) which is
eventually lead to extinction (zero population of a species) since the habitats of
these organisms are destroyed.

Coral reef Destruction

Coral reefs are the so-called “forest of the ocean” Like the forest; coral reefs contain
the richest diversity of aquatic organisms. Sadly, because of illegal fishing, coral
reefs are destroyed. The most common illegal fishing method is dynamite fishing
where illegal fishermen use explosive to instantly kill fishes. Dynamite fishing also
damages the coral reefs.

Global Warming
Environmental scientists have been warning us for decades that the CO₂ emissions
that come from burning fossil fuels are affecting the planet’s ecosystem. The increase of
CO₂ in the atmosphere traps heat that would otherwise escape into space, increasing the
Earth’s overall temperature. This has caused Arctic ice and glaciers to melt and raise
ocean levels. The loss of reflective ice and increase in water, which absorbs heat, adds to
the rising temperatures in a cycle that is predicted to cause ocean levels to rise 1 to 4 feet
by 2100.

Genetic Modification
The use of genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, has played an important
role in increasing crop yields so we can feed our populations. In addition to
providing better crop yields, modified plants are better able to resist disease and
parasites, tolerate more extreme temperatures, or thrive with less water. However,
modifying plants has not always been intentional. For example, continued use of
herbicides, like glyphosate, has caused many weeds to become immune to their
effects. In fact, 249 species of weeds are now immune to all normally used
herbicides. The only way to get rid of them is to till the soil, which exposes the soil
to sunlight and kills the organisms that help make the land fertile.

Positive Effects of Human Activities

Not all the ways that humans affect the ecosystem are negative. Every time
you recycle used paper, plastic or metal, or pick up a piece of trash from the
sidewalk, you have a positive impact on the environment. Others are committing
their time and energy to large projects to positively change the ecosystem. In 2011,
for example, a 16-year old inventor named Boyan Slat, created a device that can
sweep the plastic from the ocean. He later founded The Ocean Cleanup project to

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Reference: https://sciencing.com/human-activities-affect-ecosystem-9189.html
 begin putting that technology to use. It could clean up half the plastic currently in
the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years.
Humans impact the environment in several ways. Common effects include
decreased water quality, increased pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,
depletion of natural resources and contribution to global climate change. Some of
these are the direct result of human activities, whereas others are secondary
effects that are part of a series of actions and reactions.

Climate Change

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, human activities are

largely responsible for an increase in temperature around the globe, primarily due
to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. This increase in
temperature is leading to changes in where crops can grow and where certain fish
or animals can be found, all vital for feeding an increasing human population. The
rise in global temperatures is also causing glaciers to melt, releasing water that
causes sea levels to rise and threaten coastal communities and economies that
rely on coastal resources.

Solutions

There are several simple things that people can do on a daily basis to minimize
their impact on the environment. For example, taking public transportation, biking
or walking instead of driving will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing the
amount of fertilizer applied to lawns, gardens and vegetables will lessen the
likelihood of water pollution nearby, which is also beneficial for drinking water and
human health. Using less energy in the home can lessen the amount of pollution
put into the air by coal burning power plants. Any activity which reduces water and
energy consumption can lead to positive impacts on our environment.
Reference: https://education.seattlepi.com/effect-human-activities-environment-3653.html

Congratulations for finishing the

module. You have learned thoroughly
about Interaction and
Interdependence!Hope you enjoyed
and learned a lot from the tasks given.

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 APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED
A. Enumerate at least 25 ways on how
you are going to conserve and protect the ecosystem and the
environment.

B. Take a photo of daily human activities. Out of that photos, tell whether this
activity has an advantageor disadvantage to the ecosystem.

That was a great job! Keep it up!

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 REINFORCEMENT

A. Directions: Make an illustration. It can be in a form of collage or an artwork

showing the effect of Coronavirus to the existing condition of the Earthand
how it affects different organisms like animals, humans, and plants. Label and
color your output.

B. Essay: How will you help stop pollution and wildlife degradation? Your
response must be 200-250 words.

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 WORD BANK

1. Carbon monoxide- a poisonous gas that is formed when carbon is not

completely burned and especially when gasoline is burned in car engines.
2. Coronavirus-any of the family of single-stranded RNA viruses which infect
birds, and many mammals including humans, and include the causative
agents of MERS, SARS and Ncov.
3. Deforestation- refers to the act or result of cutting down or burning of trees.
4. Eutrophication- the process by which a body of water becomes enriched in
dissolved nutrients (such as phosphates) that stimulate the growth of aquatic
plant life usually resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen.
5. Global warming- the recent increase in the world’s temperature that is
believed to be caused by the increase of certain gases in the atmosphere.
6. Glyphosate- a systemic organophosphate herbicide used to control
herbaceous and woody weeds especially on croplands.
7. Greenhouse effect- warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of a
planet that is caused by conversion of solar radiation into heat in a process
involving selective transmission by the atmosphere.
8. Ozone layer- a layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere that prevents
dangerous radiation from the Sun from reaching the surface of the Earth.
9. Pandemic- occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an
exceptionally high portion of the population.
10. Wildlife-animals living in nature.

ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

A. Enumerate at least 15 ways on how you are going to conserve and protect the
ecosystem and the environment towards sustainability.

1.We must learn how to recycle materials that we have.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
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B. Directions: Give what is asked or described in each item by writing the letter of
the correct answer.
1. Which do you think is the primary cause of wildlife depletion?
A. Deforestation C. Soil erosion
B. Typhoon D. Coral reef destruction

2. It refers to the addition of substances that harms the environment.

A. Pollution C. Genetic modification
B. Deforestation D. Global warming

3. Which of the following is an example of pollution in bodies of water?

A. Ozone depletion C. wildlife depletion
B. Acidic precipitation D. eutrophication

4. If a population for a certain organism is above the carrying capacity of an

ecosystem, which of the following is a plausible outcome?
A. The population will continue to grow because they will start migrating to
other ecosystems.
B. The population will decline, as there are a limited number of resources
in the ecosystem.
C. The population will decline because there will be an increase in
predators.
D. The population will continue to grow until biotic potential is reached.

5. Which of the following examples refers to an abiotic factor for environmental

resistance?
A. A certain prey has numerous predators to keep the population in
check.
B. A tadpole is in competition with numerous fishes for eating microalgae
in ponds.
C. Plants are dependent on the availability of sunlight and water in an
ecosystem.
D. Bubonic plague, which was caused by a certain bacteria in mice,
slowed the growth of humans.

Congratulations! I hope you got

the perfect score.

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 ANSWER KEY

LESSON 4: HUMAN ACTIVIES AFFECTING ECOSYSTEMS

TRY THIS
1. Positive
2. Negative
3. Positive
4. Negative
5. Negative
6. Negative/Positive
7. Negative
8. Positive
9. Negative
10. Negative

DO THIS (Answers may vary)

EXPLORE (Drought, Typhoon or Extreme Weather Condition)

APPLY WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

(Answers may vary)

ASSESS WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

1. A or D
2. A
3. D
4. B
5. C

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 REFERENCES

“Redirect Notice.”Accessed July 30,

2020.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.philstar.com/headlines/2019/03/06/1
899107/drought-due-el-nio-hit-more-provinces/amp.

“Extreme Climatic Events Provide Important Insights For Resilient Design.”

Accessed July 30, 2020.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/builtenv.wordpress.com/2014/03/07/extreme-
climatic-events-provide-important-insights-for-resilient-design/amp/.

Weedmark, David. “Human Activities That Affect the Ecosystem,” March 2, 2019.
https://sciencing.com/human-activities-affect-ecosystem-9189.html.

Martonas, Jonas. “Effect of Human Activities on the Environment,” September 29,

2016. https://education.seattlepi.com/effect-human-activities-environment-
3653.html.

“Stock Vector.”Accessed July 30, 2020. https://www.123rf.com/clipart-

vector/male_teacher.html.

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