Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
Division of Ilocos Sur

SELF LEARNING KIT IN

SCIENCE 7
LESSON TITLE:
_______________________________________________________

Ecological
Relationships
MELC:
Describe the different ecological relationships found in an ecosystem. (S7LT-IIh-10)

Name of Teacher –Writer: ALLAN KIRBY R. CAPULOY

School: SAN PEDRO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

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Good day, Learner!

This Self-Learning Kit will teach you about the different interactions that you
can observe in the surroundings.

You may be wondering why butterflies, bees and birds are attracted on the
beautiful flowers of your garden. You may be curious as to why mice are
hiding from cats. You may be asking why dogs scratch their bodies from time
to time. We often get annoyed when mosquitos are trying to sip blood from us.
You may be amazed how orchid still survive even though it is attached to a
tree and you may be setting a trap for the animals that eats and ruin your
vegetable garden. These scenarios are only some of those many things that
we can observe around us on a daily basis, but do we know the reason why
these things happen?

Well, this Self-Learning will answer your questions and satisfy your curiosity
about the different interactions happening in the surroundings.

Now, are you ready to learn about these interactions? If you are, then brace
yourself and have fun going through this Self-Learning Kit about Ecological
Relationships.

Important Reminders:
 Read carefully the instructions so you will not have mistakes.
 Use this SLK as your answer sheet. You may also use another sheet if
the provided space for your answers will not be enough.
 Take your time in reading and answering the SLK.
 ENJOY.

The learner demonstrates understanding of organisms

interacting with each other and with their environment to survive.

MELC: Describe the different ecological relationships found in

an ecosystem (S7LT-IIh-10)

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Be familiarized with the different ecological relationships.
2. Cite the importance of learning ecological relationships.
3. Cite and list examples of ecological relationships.
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 Before we proceed to the main lesson, let us first have a
warm-up and enjoy a simple game you are very familiar with,
a word search. You are going to find the words hidden on the
crossword puzzle and underline/encircle/box it. These words
are important because these will be the key terms to be
discussed later.

The words to be found are enlisted on the wordbank below.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM

PARASITISM PREDATION COMPETITION

A L P A R A S I T I S M L

C O M M E N S A L I S M A

O N U K L I L R B Y C A P

M U T L A O A Y E D M A R

P J U A T M C E S M A U R

E I A C I I I O K I L L A

T N L K O A G T E C A P U

I L I O N Y O W X Z G H K

T S S D S F L Q Z N M H I

I I M O H R O T J E F O K

O T Y D I H C W H C V M X

N R T Y P R E D A T I O N

Congratulations on answering
3 the game on the earlier part
of this SLK. Those two words are important because they
are the basic key terms you need to know in understanding
ecological relationship.
ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP
In the environment, there are plants, animals and microscopic organisms. A
group of organisms of the same kind living in the same place at the same time is
called a population. Population that interacts in a given environment form a
community. Community interactions within and among populations may have
important influences to death rate and birth rates of the organisms and, in turn, on
population growth and size. These interactions may have positive, neutral, or even
negative influences on interacting populations. These interactions are what we call
ecological relationship which is categorized into five: mutualism, commensalism,
parasitism, predation and competition.

MUTUALISM
Mutualism describes a relationship where both organisms are benefited. These
organisms live together in a close association that is helpful to both species.
Organisms that share a mutualistic relationship often give each other protection and
food.

The bee benefits from the nectar it sips from the flower. In return it helps in the
transfer of pollen grains form one
flower to another in order to bear fruits.
This is an example of mutualism
because both of the organisms are
benefited.

COMMENSALISM
In some case, an organism gets
benefits from the relationship, while the other is neither benefited nor harmed. This
relationship describes commensalism. The organism that is benefited by the
relationship is called “commensal” while the one that is neither benefited nor harmed
is called “host”.
The orchid (commensal) is attached to the tree (host) where it gets nutrients
or foods. However, the tree is neither harmed nor benefited.

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 This is an example of commensalism
because one of the organisms is benefited while the other one is neither benefited
nor harmed.

PARASITISM
Parasitism happens when an organism is harmed while the other is benefited. The
organism that is benefited is called “parasite”, while the other that is harmed is called
“host”. Parasites may live inside or outside of the host. A parasite that is found inside
the host is called “endoparasite” while the parasite that is found outside the body is
called “ectoparasite”. A parasite uses its host as a source of nutrients or food.
Usually the parasite does not kill its host; however, the parasite may weaken or
sicken the host.
The mosquito (parasite) sips blood on humans (host) for their food which
means humans are harmed for they may be sick or may be weakened.
In this relationship, one organism is benefited while the other is harmed.

PREDATION
Predation includes any interaction of
organisms where one specie attacks,
kills or eats another specie to obtain
nutrients or food. The organism that
kills and eats is called “predator” and
the one being attacked, killed and
eaten is called “prey”. Usually the
prey is smaller and less powerful
than the predator that eats them.
The cat (predator) killed a rat (prey) to serve as its food. The smaller and less
powerful rat gets eaten by the more powerful cat.
In this interaction, the more powerful organism kills the other organism and
the less powerful organism gets eaten/killed.
COMPETITION
In a given community, predators compete with
other predators for prey animals. In the wild, a
predator’s prey may also be another prey’s
predator. This means that while an animal hunts
and feeds upon another animal, it can also
become prey to a larger and stronger predator.
When two populations use the same resource,
they participate in a biological interaction called

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competition. Resources for which different populations compete include food, nesting
sites or habitat, light, nutrients, and water. Usually, competition occurs for resources
in short supply. Competition that occurs within a group of organisms belonging to the
same species is called “intraspecific competition”. An example is when bats compete
for the limited amount of chico fruit. On the other hand, “interspecific competition”
happens when organisms belonging to different species compete for resources. For
example, humans and bats compete for the limited amount of chico fruit.
A group of organisms belonging to different species competes for food. This is
an example of interspecific competition.
Competition usually arise due to scarcity of resources available on a certain
area.

This part shows additional examples of the interactions of different

species highlighting 5 of the ecological relationships discussed
above.

The clownfish cleans the fish and algae leftovers on the tentacles of the sea
animone which is served as its food. Meanwhile, the tentacles of the sea animone is
stingy for other fishes and that serves as protection for the clownfish for it drives
away predators. This is an example of Mutualism because both of the organisms are
benefited with their interaction.

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 In this photo, commensalism is observed.
The bird is benefited because it feeds the
insects that flies on top of the carabao.
Meanwhile, the carabao is neither
benefited nor harmed on the interaction.

Parasitic wasps attack the eggs of the

caterpillar or sometimes it lays its eggs
inside the caterpillar where it will hatch
and begin to feed on the inside of the
caterpillar. Wasps are benefited. On the
other hand, caterpillar is harmed because
wasps attack their eggs and hindering the
development of their pupae and wasps
also feed on the inside of the caterpillar
until it is dead.

In this photo, predation is clearly

observed. The shark is the predator while
the sea lion is its prey. The bigger and
more powerful shark killed and eats the
sea lion which is smaller and less
powerful. In this interaction, one is
benefited while the other one is killed and
gets eaten.

Competition is very evident in the photo.

As you can see, different species are competing for the limited source of food. This
normally happens in the jungle where lot of
different species live together.
In this photo, we can observe that birds
are competing for food. Although they
belong to the same species, competition is
still there. This is an example of
intraspecific competition where birds
belonging to the same species are
competing for limited supply of food.

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 This part tests your understanding of the lesson. There will be
series of exercises/activities that you will be answering. Read
the directions before proceeding to the exercise/activity proper.

ACTIVITY 1. IDENTIFICATION
Directions: Identify the words referring to the statements below. Write your answers
on the spaces provided before the number.

1. It is an interaction in which one organism is benefited while

the
other one is neither benefited nor harmed.
2. What do you call the interaction in which one organism gets
eaten/killed by a more powerful organism?
3. A relationship referring to the rivalry of species because of
limited resources.
4. In what interaction can you categorize when both organisms
are benefited?
5. This is a relationship where one organism attach itself to a
host
which harms it and sometimes results to death.

ACTIVITY 2. MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE

Directions: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and if it is FALSE, change the
italicized word to make the statement correct. Write your answer on the spaces
provided before the number.

1. In mutualism, you can describe the relationship as + and +

because both organisms are benefited.
2. Commensalism is a relationship described as + and –
because
one organism is benefited for it attach itself to a host harming
it.
3. A relationship described as + and 0 because one organism is
benefited while the other is neither benefited nor harmed is
parasitism.
4. Predation refers to the relationship of a predator and a prey.
This interaction can also be considered as + and –
relationship.

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 5. A relationship where organisms have rivalry mostly because
of
shelter and food is called competition.

ACTIVITY 3. WE BELONG
Directions: Analyze the pictures to which ecological relationship they belong to and
draw a line to connect the dots beside each photo belonging to the same ecological
relationship.

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ACTIVITY 4. CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Directions: Read and analyze the statements/clues provided to answer the
crossword puzzle below.

1. 2.

3.
4.

5.

6. 7.

8.
9.

10.

ACROSS DOWN

3. An interaction described as + and 0. 1. An interaction that arises from the

rivalry for food and shelter.
4. The relationship of host and
parasite. 2. It is the organism that attach itself to
the host without benefiting or harming
5. An interaction describes as + and +. it.

8. It is the term referring to where 6. It is a type of competition in which

commensal or parasite attached itself.
10. A type of competition in which
organisms of different species fight for
resources.
organism of the same species fight for
resources.
7. It is the organism that attach itself to
a host for food that eventually weaken
or kill its host.

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 9. A relationship of predator and prey.

ACTIVITY 5. SORTING TIME

Directions: Sort the different pair/group of organisms to what ecological relationship
they belong to. Write your answers on the table below.

humans/plants birds/trees fleas/dog shark/sea lion

dog/cat lice/human
flower/bees human hunter/deer orchid/tree
sea anemone/clown fish grass/vegetable/trees
bird/carabao snake/frog human/bats tapeworm/human

Relationship Organisms

MUTUALISM

COMMENSALISM

PARASITISM

PREDATION

COMPETITION

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ACTIVITY 6. MATCHY MATCHY
Directions: Unjumble the disarranged letters in column A, and write your answers
on the space provided. Match the jumbled letters from column A to column B and
then match also the pictures from column B to the statements in column C. Use lines
for matching.

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 A B C

T U A M I S M L U Organism
competing for
limited resources.

MOCPITOTINE One organism is

benefited while
the other one is
harmed.

ATIPMISSAR
Both organisms
are benefited.

ERTADPONI One organism

kills and another
gets eaten.

CMENLIASMOSM
One is benefited while
the other is neither
benefited nor harmed.

ACTIVITY 7. THINK IT TROUGH

Directions: Read and analyze the sentences below and identify the word that
satisfies the following statements. Write your answer on the left box. Furthermore, on
the box to the right, write a sample organism of your answer on the left box.

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 I am an organism.
I attach myself to something.
I neither benefit nor harm the thing I am attached with.
What am I?

Answer: Sample Organism:

I am an organism.
Some organisms attach with me.
It may benefit or harm me.
What am I?

Answer: Sample Organism:

I am an organism.
Like virus I infect the thing I am in.
Eventually it’ll be weakened or dead.
What am I?

Answer: Sample Organism:

ACTIVITY 8. PICTURE ANALYSIS

Directions: Study the following pictures below. On the first box, write what type of
ecological relationship it portrays. On the second box, write your explanation as to
why it falls on that type of ecological relationship.

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 Both organisms are benefited
MUTUALISM in the process called
respiration.

The bird is benefite

COMMENSALISM it has shelter while
neither benefited no

The lice feeds of blood as

PARASITISM food (benefited) while the
human is harmed.

The snake (predato

PREDATION
frog (prey) for its

The organisms fight for the

COMPETITION food available on a specific
area.

ACTIVITY 9. CONCEPT MAPPING

Directions: Using the knowledge you have accumulated
so far from this Self-Learning Kit, make a concept map
about ecological relationship. You are free to create your

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own design on your concept map as long as the interconnectedness and accuracy of
the concepts are incorporated.

This part summarizes the concept you have learned in this

Self-Learning Kit (SLK) but in an interactive manner.
Complete the following
16 sentences by means of filling the
blanks with the correct words found on the word box.
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 In an environment, there are biotic components such as animals, plants
and microscopic organisms interacting with one another. is
the term used to refer to the group of organisms living and interacting at the
same place at the same time. Furthermore, when these population interact at
a given environment, they form the so called . The
interactions of these organisms may be positive, negative or neutral. These
is what we call ecological relationship which is
characterized into five: mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, predation and
competition.
describes a relationship where it has positive effect to
both of the organisms which means that both organisms are benefited in the
interaction. Commensalism is the interaction of organisms where one is benefited
and the other is neither nor . The one that is not
affected is called host and the one benefited is called . When the
relationship is described as one organism is benefited and the other one is harmed,
the relationship is called . In this relationship, parasite (benefited)
and host (harmed) is involved. The parasite may be found outside or inside the body
of a host. describes the relationship where an organism kills and
eats a smaller and less powerful organism. Predator is the name of the attacker
while prey is the one being eaten. Competition is the interaction of organisms
wherein they compete for limited resources. It has two kinds, the intraspecific
competition where the competition is between organisms belonging to the
specie and interspecific competition where organisms belonging to
species compete for limited resources.

To further improve your skill in identifying different ecological

relationship you see in your surroundings, let’s practice more
through this activity.
Complete the table below. First item is given as an example.

Organisms
Organisms Organism(s) Organism(s)
Relationship not affected
involved benefited (+) harmed (-)
(0)

cat & mouse predation cat mouse

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I. LISTING
Directions: Observe your surroundings, list human interactions that shows the 5
types of ecological relationship. Follow the format below. First item is done as your
reference.

Type of
Scenario Ecological Explanation
Relationship

This scenario falls on parasitism

The mother of my friend
because the lice is the parasite
is trying to remove her Parasitism
feeding the blood of its host
lice.
(human)

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 Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Predation

Competition

II. 2-TIERED MULTIPLE CHOICE

Direction: Read the statements carefully and encircle the letter of the best answer.
Then, on the space provided below each item, explain further why your choice is the
correct answer.

1. What relationship is described as + and +?

A. Commensalism
B. Competition
C. Mutualism
D. Predation

Why is described as + and + interaction?

2. What relationship is described as + and 0?

A. Commensalism
B. Mutualism

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 C. Parasitism
D. Predation

Why is described as + and 0 interaction?

3. What of the following does not belong to the + and - relationship?

A. Competition
B. Mutualism
C. Parasitism
D. Predation

Why does not belong to the + and – relationship?

4. Which of the following is an example of endoparasite?

A. dog fleas
B. human ice
C. mosquito
D. tapeworm

Why is an example of endoparasite?

5. Which of the following does not exhibit intraspecific competition?

A. cats competing for fish
B. dogs competing for food
C. humans competing for rice shortage
D. goats, cows and horses compete for grass as food

Why does not exhibit intraspecific competition?

III. ESSAY
Direction: Briefly explain/elaborate or share your thoughts on the following:

1. How important is it to maintain ecological relationship?

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2. You’ve learned that in ecological relationship, some organisms are benefited, and
some are harmed. How can you persuade people that each one of the ecological
relationships is important?

3.. How important is it for you to learn the concepts of ecological relationship?

I. BOOK

Science – Grade 7 Learner’s Material First Edition, 2017 (FEP Printing Corporation)
Science and Technology for the Future I (Diwa Scholastic Press Inc)
Practical Science for Grade 7 (United Eferza Academic Publications Co. 2012)

II. WEBSITE

https://education.seattlepi.com/five-types-ecological-relationships-4019.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/ecological-relationships/
https://www.slideshare.net/GarnetMarie/ecological-relationship-64055772
https://sciencing.com/five-types-ecological-relationships-7786.html

III. PHOTO CREDITS

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-c94b383035e9d506df6fb4f18243579d.webp

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https://reflectos.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/usa2009-035.jpg
https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/sites/default/files/styles/strona_glowna_slider_750x420/public/
201710/28173381_28066297.jpg?itok=Dq71X-uz
https://topbest.ph/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/cat.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/2481/5843821946_c2132acbfc_b.jpg
https://www.thoughtco.com/thmb/vMTaNLRhmiEVLhXPBo3oAAUQ2aE=/1333x1000/smart/
filters:no_upscale()/clownfish_sea_anemone-581b994d3df78cc2e879cc71.jpg
https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-perseus-images/66de57ef30dac1f988bd75d41383bd4e93f76889.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcTxQY7m0bbOwliq4mTNAdV3I9hJbx-
I9m0LmKhMBFFY7zA_Xe4R&usqp=CAU
https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/shark-predator-picture-DP17a..jpg
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn
%3AANd9GcRq0uGevrw8OxYNS0aMb3ZC1O79NF6SuRXjBVbrW-DTOgpqRH7v&usqp=CAU
https://www.ck12.org/book/human-biology-breathing/section/4.1/
https://www.yourdictionary.com/commensalism
https://www.insider.com/signs-of-lice-2018-10
https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/frog-in-the-mouth-of-a-snake-tamil-saints-simile
https://biologydictionary.net/competition/

Review/Motivation

Activity 1. Identification
Activity 2. Modified True or False

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Activity 3. We Belong

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Activity 4.

Crossword Puzzle

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Activity 5. Sorting Time

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Activity 6. Matchy Matchy

Activity 7. Think It Through

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Activity 8. Picture Analysis

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Activity 9. Concept Mapping

Answers of the students may vary.

Generalization

Application

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Answers may vary

Assessment I. Listing
Answers may vary

Assessment II. 2-Tiered Multiple Choice

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Assessment III. Essay
Answers may vary

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