Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
DIVISION OF ZAMBOANGA CITY

STRATEGIC INTERVENTION MATERIAL

Ecological Relationships

Science 7
Second Quarter
Week 6

Written & Illustrated by:

JANE AUBREY DE PAZ- GACETA
Master Teacher I
Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Guide Card 1: Let’s Strengthen the Relationship ………………… 1

Activity Card 1: What’s your Relationship? ………………………… 2

Guide Card 2: Figuring out Relationships …………………………… 3

Activity Card 2: Who’s in a Relationship? …………………………… 5

Activity Card 3: Finding Pairs …………………………………………… 7

Activity Card 4: Understanding Relationships ……………………… 8

Assessment Card …………………………………………………………… 10

Enrichment Card …………………………………………………………… 12

Reference Card ……………………………………………………………… 13

Answer Card ………………………………………………………………… 14

End Card ……………………………………………………………………… 15

 Content Standards

The learner demonstrates an understanding of:

1. Organisms interacting with each other and with their environment.

Most Essential Learning Competency

The learner should be able to:

1. Describe the different ecological relationships found in an ecosystem.

(S7LT-IIh-10).

Most Essential Learning Competency

1. Describe the different ecological relationships found in an ecosystem (U)

*Department of Education. (August 2016). K-12 Curriculum Guide: Science

GUIDE CARD 1: LET’S STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP!

Hello science enthusiast! Sit back because today will be

an exciting day for you.

In the previous lesson you have learned that an

ecosystem is a community of interacting organisms and its
environment. It is made up of the biotic and abiotic
components interacting with each other.

This time you will be able to explore about Ecological

Relationships.

Ecological Relationships are different interactions

happening in the environment between and among
organisms. The different ecological relationships are
Commensalism, Competition, Mutualism, Parasitism
and Predation.

These are just all around us and is happening to maintain

ecological balance.

Let us then prepare yourselves because your imagination

will not limit you to learn as we will be exploring the different
ecological relationships beyond your imagination.

Fasten up your seat belts as we unravel the wonders of

Ecological Relationships.

Student’s Notes (Please check ( / ) the box)

After reading this page;

I still do not understand the lesson. Now I understand the lesson.

What I think about the things I do.

Easy Difficult
For this lesson I want to study

Alone With one of my classmate Within the group

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ACTIVITY CARD 1: WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

Instructions: Let’s figure out what’s your relationship

by answering the given questions using the scrambled
letters as clues.

1. A relationship where one organism feeds on another organism or one organism

is being eaten.
CLUE: PRDTNEAIO

Answer: ______________________________________

2. It is a relationship between two organisms where only one organism benefits

from the relationship yet the other is not harmed.

CLUE: CMMSNSLMAOEI

Answer: ______________________________________

3. A relationship where organisms compete for food, space and other resources.
Living things fight or compete with each other to survive.

CLUE: CMPTTNOEIIO

Answer: ______________________________________

4. It is a relationship between two organisms where in both are benefitting from

each other.

CLUE: MMTLSIUAU

Answer: ______________________________________

5. A relationship which shows one organism is being harmed and the other is
benefitting.

CLUE: PSTSMRAAII

Answer: ______________________________________

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GUIDE CARD 2: FIGURING OUT RELATIONSHIPS!

Now let’s figure out together what it truly means to be in a

relationship. Are you all set kids? Vamos! Let’s do it!

Ecological Relationship pertains to interaction

happening in the environment between and among living
organisms. These interactions happen for food, space, mate
to survive and reproduce and may have positive, negative or
neutral effects to organisms.

The following are the different ecological relationships:

MUTUALISM is an ecological relationship that takes

place when two organisms interact and they benefit
from one another.

Example, between a clown fish and sea anemone. The

clownfish gives the sea anemone nutrients in the form
of a waste and the sea anemone acts as a shelter and
protection for the clown fish.

COMMENSALISM is an ecological relationship

wherein only one organism benefits from the other but
the other is not benefitting or harmed.

Example, a tarsier living on a tree. The tree provides

shelter to the tarsier. It clings on trees to be able to
move its head and view the entire surrounding for
possible prey, but the tree is not harmed.

PARASITISM is an ecological relationship in which it

is comprised of a parasite and a host. The parasite is
the only one benefitting in this relationship by getting
the nutrients from its host which is harmed.

Example, caterpillar feeding on a plant. The plant acts

as the host while the caterpillar is the parasite. The
caterpillar consumes the leaves of the plants causing
it to be damaged.

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 COMPETITION is an ecological relationship between
organisms thriving for the same purpose and fighting
for the same resources like food, shelter or space.

Example, competition among plants in a small pot

wherein plants present in a given pot compete for
nutrients and space.

PREDATION is an ecological relationship between a

prey and predator. It is a relationship where the
predator eats the prey or a prey is being eaten by a
predator.

Example, eagle and small bird. An eagle is considered

to be a predator and hunts other animals or preys for
food like small birds.

In summary . . .

Ecological Relationships Examples

1. Mutualism Sea anemone and clown fish
2. Commensalism Tarsier clinging in a tree
3. Parasitism Caterpillar feeding on a plant
4. Competition Variety of plants living in a small pot
5. Predation Eagle and small bird

Student’s Notes (Please check ( / ) the box)

After reading this page;

I still do not understand the lesson. Now I understand the lesson.

What I think about the things I do.

Easy Difficult
For this lesson I want to study

Alone With one of my classmate Within the group

4
ACTIVITY CARD 2: WHO’S IN A RELATIONSHIP?

Instructions: Below are photos of interacting living organisms

showing a specific relationship in the ecosystem. Identify the ecological
relationship that it shows and describe the answer given.

Example Relationship Ecological Describe the

Relationship Relationship

1.

2.

5
 3.

4.

5.

Great work science enthusiasts! You have successfully

unlocked your knowledge about ecological relationships
by doing this activity. Are you still up for more? Let’s go!

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 ACTIVITY CARD 3: FINDING PAIRS!

Instructions: Find the best pair of organisms that suit each

other from Column A and Column B. Connect them with a line and
describe the relationship that each pair shows.

DESCRIPTION OF
COLUMN A COLUMN B THE ECOLOGICAL
RELATIONSHIP

wolves ring worm

iguana egrets

cow flower

human body chicken

bee bears

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ACTIVITY CARD 4: UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS!

Instructions: Read and analyze the given situations and

describe what ecological relationship they show.

SITUATION 1 -

Ants keep aphids which supply them with honeydew that they produce. On the other
hand, ants provide protection to aphids to keep them safe from its predators.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP __________________________________

SITUATION 2 -

In order to survive, one has to die between two organisms. Such as, to increase the
population of wolves in a specific area, more rabbits have to die and be eaten.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP __________________________________

SITUATION 3 -

There are times that certain organism makes use of other organism for shelter,
protection and other purposes just like a tape worm inside a dog’s body. But the dog
is harmed causing it to lose weight and get ill.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP __________________________________

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SITUATION 4 -

Marine organisms have the ability of initiate chemical warfare as a defense against
their rival specially fighting over the needed resources. Group of corals is an example
of this in which they vie with each other and also with fishes for nutrients and
sunlight.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP __________________________________

SITUATION 5 -

Barnacles are arthropods that are not capable of moving on their own. To survive
and to be able to get food, they stick to bigger organisms like whales without
harming them.

ECOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP __________________________________

Amazing! You were able to make it on your own until the

last activity! Congratulations and you are one step closer
to the finish line.

Can you tell me how much have you learned from the activities given?

Please check ( / ) the appropriate box.

Nothing
Little
Much

9
 ASSESSMENT CARD

Instructions: Read and understand the given questions

carefully. Write the answer on the space provided before the number.

_____ 1. Which of the following ecological relationships is being demonstrated when

two male lions fight for a female lion for mating?

a. Predation c. Parasitism
b. Competition d. Mutualism
_____ 2. Ticks are known to be pest that harms its host by sucking the host’s blood
causing it to itch. How would you describe the ecological relationship that
takes place in the given situation?

a. Competition, because it shows a competitive interaction between the

pest and host.
b. Predation, because it is only the tick that is benefitting in the given
situation.
c. Commensalism, because only one organism benefits but the other one
which is the host is not harmed.
d. Parasitism, because the tick which is the pest or the parasite consumes
the host’s blood for food and harms the host through sucking its blood.
_____ 3. Which of the given example has a similar ecological relationship between
a coconut tree and cocolisap?

a. Bat on a mango tree

b. Rice water weevil on rice fields
c. Ants on acacia tree
d. Orchid clinging on a tree
_____ 4. In reference to question number 3, what relationship does the example
show?

a. Commensalism c. Mutualism
b. Competition d. Parasitism
_____ 5. What ecological relationship is exhbited when cat hunts mice for food?

a. Predation c. Parasitism
b. Competition d. Mutualism

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_____ 6. Which of the given choices below correctly describes the
relationship shown in the given photo of a fern and rabo
chonggo?

a. Competition, because the fern and rabo chonggo

placed in a small pot is competing for nutrients needed
for them to grow.
b. Mutualism, because they benefit from each other by
sharing needed nutrients.
c. Commensalism, because the fern stays moist when watered which allows
the rabo chonggo to stock water in its spongey roots.
d. Parasitim, because the fern hinders the rabo chonggo to grow well.
_____ 7. Mutualism is an ecologcical relationship between two organisms in which
both benefit from the relationship. Which of the following is an example of
mutualism?

a. A bird living in a tree c. A school of fish living in corals

b. Chicken feeding on worms d. Frogs in plants
_____ 8. A bee hops from one flower to another to gather nectar for food. When
bees land in flowers, they are able to get pollens and these pollens are
being rubbed off in other flowers which causes pollination. What ecological
relationship does the bee and flower show?

a. Predation c. Parasitism
b. Competition d. Mutualism
_____ 9. Which of the following ecological relationship correctly describes predation?

a. Bacteria in a human’s digestive tract.

b. A tiger feeding over a deer’s body.
c. Trees on tropical rainforest fighting over sunlight.
d. A leech sucking blood of a host.
_____ 10. What ecological relationship is displayed when one organism is benefitting
while the other is not harmed?

a. Commensalism c. Mutualism
b. Competition d. Parasitism

YOU MADE IT! Congratulations you were able to complete all

tasks! You are a certified science enthusiast! Let’s assess how
much you have learned today by answering the question below.

Can you tell me how much you have learned from the activities given?
Please check ( / ) the appropriate box.
Nothing Little Much

11
 ENRICHMENT CARD

Indeed, it’s fun to learn science! You were able to make it this
far! To make learning more fun-filled and interesting, let us try this
final task  Let’s go beyond imagination and see for yourselves!

Instructions: Take a tour outside your houses and observe your surroundings.
Draw or take a photo of the different ecological relationships that you were able to
observe. Illustrate or paste the printed photo in the box provided below.

PARASITISM PREDATION

COMMENSALISM MUTUALISM

COMPETITION

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 ANSWER CARD
ACTIVITY 1. WHAT’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP? ASSESSMENT CARD
1. Predation 1. B 6. C
2. Commensalism 2. D 7. C
3. Competition 3. B 8. D
4. Mutualism 4. D 9. B
5. Parasitism 5. A 10. A
ACTIVITY 2. WHO’S IN A RELATIONSHIP? (answers for the description may vary)
Ecological Relationship Description of the Ecological Relationship
1. Mutualism Butterflies hop from one flower to another to
gather nectar for food. When butterflies land in
flowers, they are able to get pollens and these
pollens are being rubbed off in other flowers
which causes pollination.
2. Commensalism Orchids cling on trees for shelter but the tree is
not harmed.
3. Predation The mice serve as the snake’s prey where the
snake eats it to survive.
4. Parasitism Humans act as the host of the mosquito where
mosquito, being a parasite, sucks human blood
for food. And humans are harmed.
5. Competition The group of fish in the aquarium varies in size
compete with one another for food, nutrients
and oxygen.
ACTIVITY 3. FINDING PAIRS? (answers for the description may vary)
Column A and B Pairing Description of the Ecological Relationship
1. Wolves and bears Competition. Wolves and bears are competitors
that fight against each other for food in order to
survive.
2. Iguana and chicken Predation. Iguana is considered a predator that
eats chicken for food.
3. Cow and egrets Commensalism. Whenever cows are in the
fields, they move insects nesting on the grass.
The egrets catch these insects and benefit from
it. But cows are not harmed or affected.
4. Human body and ringworm Parasitism. Ringworm is a fungus and can be
considered as parasite living in human’s body
which is its host.
5. Bee and flower Mutualism. Bees hop from one flower to another
to gather nectar for food. When bees land in
flowers, they are able to get pollens and these
pollens are being rubbed off in other flowers
which causes pollination
ACTIVITY 4. UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS
1. Mutualism 2. Predation 3. Parasitism
4. Competition 5. Commensalism
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 END CARD

What I learned from this topic:

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What I still want to learn from this topic:

__________________________________________________________
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