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ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE
Quarter 1– Module 1: Week 2
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE- GRADE 7
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 2: ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND PRONCIPLES
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Sonia Campaña- Abanto
Editors: A. C. MANLANGIT, JR.(QA)
Reviewers: Name
Illustrator: Name
Layout Artist: Mitchell Dave M. Cabuguas
Management Team: Ronald G. Gutay, Allan B. Matin-aw, Mary Jane J. Powao,
Aquilo A. Rentillosa, Cristina T. Remocaldo, Meriam Abadilla,
Ryan B. Redoblado

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region VII, Central Visayas

Office Address: Department of Education - Carcar City Division ( Learning Resources
Management Section _____________________________________
P. Nellas St., Poblacion III, Carcar City, Cebu __________________
Telefax: (032)4878495___________________________________________
E-mail Address: carcarcitydivison@yahoo.com_______________________________
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Environmental Science

Quarter 1 – Week 2: Ecological

Concepts & Principles
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Environmental Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on

Ecological Concept and principles.

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by educators both from
public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in helping the learners
meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social,
and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent learning
activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help learners acquire the
needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of the
module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module. You also
need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage their own learning.
Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks
included in the module.

For the learner:

Welcome to the Environmental Science Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Ecological
concepts and principles.

The hand is one of the most symbolized part of the human body. It is often used to depict
skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and accomplish. Hence,
the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner is capable and empowered
to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and skills at your own pace and time. Your
academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for guided
and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the
contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

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This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give 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 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 will be 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.

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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!

What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the nature
of Biology. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many different learning situations.
The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read them can be
changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
 The module is probably began as a result of man’s curiosity and sense of wonder of the
universe about him. It is generated by man’s urge to explore and to know - an urge that
is within us all. The urge to discover and allows scientists to explain the natural
world.
 The learners demonstrate understanding of the use of scientific information and skills to
make informed decisions about themselves and the environment in which they live.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

 Determine the different ecological concepts and principles.

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 What I Know

Pretest / Assessment
(Answer this portion in separate sheet of paper)

Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following is not a source of nitrogen that is available in plants?

A. Decaying plant and matter
B. Nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels and organic
matter.
C. Synthetic nitrogen containing fertilizers D. Animal waste product.

2. It is consists of all the organisms that feed at a particular level in a food chain.
A. Niche B. Food pyramid C. Trophic level D. Habitat

3. Secondary consumes belong to ______.

A. Fourth trophic level B. Second trophic level C. Third trophic level D. First trophic
level

4. Which is not an abiotic component of the environment?

A. Gases B. Light C. Bacteria D. Soil

5. After the 1992 Rio Summit, it became a buzzword for measuring the health of the
planet. And for referring to number of species found there.
A. Biodiversity B. Conservation C. Ecological Footprint D. Sustainable development

6. They are unable to produce food, are constantly looking for sources of organic nutrients
from elsewhere. A. Autotrophs B. Detritivores C. Decomposers D. Heterotrophs

7. It is the amount of energy that is passed from one organism to the next in a food chain.
A. 5% B. 10% C. 15% D. 20%
8.The release of water vapor from the leaves of trees is called __
A. Evaporation B. Condensation C. Precipitation D. Transpiration

8. Lichen is a symbiotic decomposer that attaches itself to trees and slowly breaks them
down. They obtain nutrients from the tree allowing them to survive and produce. What
type of relationship is this?
A. Predator- prey B. Parasitism C. Mutualism D. Competition

9. It is the study of how organisms live and how they interact with their environment.
A. Biology B. Zoology C. Botany D. Ecology

10. An organism that can make their own food.

A. Autotrophs. B. Consumers. C. Decomposers. D. Heterotrophs

12. It is a plant or animal material used for energy production (electricity or heat),or in
various industrial processes a raw substance for a range of products.
A. Tropical Level. B. Food Web. C. Biomass. D. Consumers

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13. What is the correct order of the levels of organization?
A. tissues- cell- organ system organism. B. organism- cells- tissues- organ system
C. organism- cells- tissues- organ systems. D. cell– tissues - organ systems- organism

14. Populations have a variety of species. A. True. B. False

15. It is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem and relative
abundance of each of those species.
A. Species Diversity. C. Functional Diversity
B. Ecological Diversity. D. Biodiversity

ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS &

PRINCIPLES

What’s In

 Determine the different ecological concepts and principles.

 Biodiversity and Ecosystem functions

 The variety of species and ecosystems on Earth and the ecological processes of which
they are a part- including ecosystem, species, and genetic diversity components.

Biodiversity Component

Component/ Composition Structure Function

Attribute

Ecosystem Ecosystem in an area Patch size Connectivity

Species Species richness in Abundance Predator/ prey
an area dynamics
Genetic Number of unique Relative abundance of Adaptation
genes in a each unique gene in a
population. population.
 Determine the different ecological concept and principles.

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 Ecological Concepts- are general understanding (facts) about:

 Ecosystem Concept - provide a foundation for developing

ecological principles.

 Ecosystem Management- basic tools that can be applied to

support some of the application.

 Ecological Principles-are basic assumptions (beliefs) about

ecosystem and they function and are informed
by the ecological concepts.

Ecological Concepts & Principles

Ecological concepts are general understandings (or facts) about ecosystems
and ecosystem management. Ecological principles are basic assumptions (or beliefs)
about ecosystems and how they function that are informed by the ecological
Ecological Concepts: There are basic ecological concept provides a framework for
understanding and researching more about ecosystem.
Study the diagram:

slideshare.net

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Population
- dynamic of species and these populations interact with the wider environment. It is
consist of individual organisms or species that live, interact, and migrate through
the same niche or habitat.
Community
- group of organisms of different species which are associated together as a unit.
Biosphere
- part of the earth and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms.
Ecological niche
- position of that animal occupies in a habitat. Includes physical space where the
organism is found and its role in that habitat in terms of feeding relationships and
other interactions with other species.
Habitat
- specific locality with a particular set of conditions where organisms live. Habitats
are categorized into terrestrial and aquatic.
Biomass
- total dry weight of living organisms at a particular tropic level or per unit area.
Ecosystem
- natural unit composed of abiotic and biotic factors whose interactions leads to self-
sustaining system. Small bond or a large ecosystem such as a tropical forest.

Benefits of Ecological Concepts:

Environmental Conversation

- provides on how every organism needs other for peaceful coexistence.

Resource Allocation

- plants and animals have roles in the environment as they sharing limited natural resources
such as air, minerals, space. Lack of ecological studies may be the cause of deprivation and
looting of these natural resources.

Energy Conservation

- the entire living organism needs energy such as nutrition, light, radiation.

Eco- Friendliness

- helps to appreciate living among the organisms, this will follow natural order of things.

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Principles of Ecological Diversity

Abiotic-non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living
organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.
Biotic- living organism that affects another organism or shapes the ecosystem.
Limiting Factor- in an ecosystem any biotic and abiotic factor that restricts the number or
production of organisms.
Law of Tolerance- abundance or distribution of an organism can be controlled by certain
factors (climatic, topographic, biological requirements of plants and animals)

Biotic Components-

Producers (autotrophs)

Photosynthesis

Consumers (heterotrophs)

Aerobic respiration

Decomposers

Slideshare.net

Producers- (autotrophs) organisms that can produce their own food, using materials

Inorganic sources.

Photosynthesis- the process by which green plants and certain other organisms transform light
energy into chemical energy.

Consumers(heterotrophs)- an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy and
nutrients.

Aerobic respiration- process by which organisms use oxygen to turn fuel, such as fats and
sugars, into chemical energy.

Decomposers- are made up to the FBI ( fungi, bacteria, and invertebrates-worms and
insects).They are all living things that get energy by eating dead animals and plants and
breaking down waste of other animals.

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Trophic level-

 Primary consumer (herbivore)

 Secondary consumer (carnivore)

 Tertiary consumer

 Omnivore

 Detritivores & scavengers

 Decomposers

Slideshare.net

Biodiversity
- is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species, it ranges
widely from the number o species to differences within species and can be attributed to the span
of survival for a species.

A) Species diversity- defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem

and relative abundance of each of those species. Diversity is
greatest when all the species present are equally abundant in the
area.
B) Ecological diversity- global scale would be the variation in ecosystems, such as deserts,
Forests , grasslands, wetlands and oceans. Ecological diversity is the largest scale
of biodiversity, and within each ecosystem, there is a great deal of both species and
genetic diversity.

C) Functional diversity- is a component of biodiversity that generally concerns the range of

things that organisms do in communities and ecosystems. Explain and predict the impact of
organisms on ecosystems and thereby provide a mechanistic link between the two.

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 What is It

The connection of Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems.

Slideshare.net

Ecological Pyramids:

 Pyramid of energy flow

 Ecological Efficiency

 Pyramid of biomass

 Pyramid of numbers

Slideshare.net

Pyramid of energy – refer to the diagram shown above. It contains producers, consumers
and decomposers. There are also number of each level.

Ecological Efficiency- describes the efficiency which energy is transferred from one trophic
level to the next.

Pyramid of biomass- portrayal of biomass present in a unit of the territory of different

trophic levels.

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Pyramid of numbers- graphical representation that shows the number of organisms at each
tropic level.

What’s More

Construct a concept map out of the following words.

Ecosystem Biotic Producer

Consumer Plants Animals

What I Have Learned

Identifications: Recall the terms referred to in the statements. Write your answer in a separate sheet of
paper.
_________1. Study of the relationships between organisms and their environment.
_________2. The basic unit of ecology.
_________3. Also known as herbivores.
_________4. Group of organisms of different species which are associated together as a unit.

_________5. Provides a framework for understanding and researching more about ecosystem.

________6. Sequence of organisms related to one another.

________7. Energy transfer that involves interlocking food chain.

________8. Organisms that can make their own food.

________9. It is composed of abiotic and biotic factors whose interactions leads to self-sustaining.

________10. Portrayal of biomass present in a unit of the territory of different trophic level.

________11. What process by which organisms use oxygen to fuel such as fats and sugars

into chemical bond.

_______12.What do you call of an organisms in the position if occupies in a food web.

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_______13. Refers to plants or animal material used for energy production (electricity or heat), or in

various industrial processes as a raw substance for a range of products.

_______14.What factor of ecosystem are nonliving chemical and physical parts of environment.

_______15. It is a process used by plants and other organism to convert light energy into chemical

energy that can later be released to fuel the organism' activities.

________16.Describes the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one trophic level to the

next.

________17. What component of biodiversity that generally concerns the range of things that

organisms do in communities and ecosystems.

________18. It is defined as the number of different species present in an ecosystem and relative

abundance of each of those species.

________19. An organism that decomposes, or breaks down, organic material such as the remains of

dead organisms.

_________20. It is part of the earth and atmosphere inhabited by living organisms.

What I Can Do

A. Construct at least three food chains.

Carrots Corn Grass Grasshopper Rabbit Bird Eagle Worm Rat Mushroom Cat

B. Construct a food web out of the food chains that you have constructed in letter A. Algae

Trees Squirrel Hawk Fungi Mountain lion Shrew Mouse Goat Human Snake

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References:
https://www.google.com/search?q=biological+organization+of+life&rlz=1C1GCEB_enPH849
PH849&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=rKSZzD7Pr42lKM%252Cbmzv93_7N83IrM%252C_
&vet=1

http://www.biodiversitybc.org/assets/pressReleases/BBCPrinciplesWEB.pdf

For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of education – Carcar City Division (Learning Resources

Management Section)

P. Nellas Se., Poblacion III, Carcar City , Cebu Philippines 6019

Tel. No. 4878495

Email Address : carcarcitydivision@yahoo.com

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Answer Key:

Pretest/Assessment: Post-test/Assessment:
1b 1. Ecology
2c 2.Ecosystem

3c 3.Herbivore/s

4c 4. Biodiversity
5.Community
5a
6. Levels of organization
6c
7.Food web
7b
8.Autotrophs or producers
8d
9. Ecosystem
9d
10. pyramid of biomass
10d
11.Aerobic respiration
11a 12. Tropic Level
12c 13. Biomass
13d 14. Abiotic
14a 15.Photosynthesis
15a 16.Ecological Efficiency
17. Functional diversity
18. Species diversity
19. Decomposers
20. Biosphere

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