Name: __________________________________________________ Grade & Section: __________ Date: __________

SCIENCE 8
Quarter 4, Week 6-7
I. Title: Lesson 1: Cycling of Materials in the Ecosystem
MELC: Analyze the roles of organisms in the cycling of materials.
Explain how materials cycle in an ecosystem.
Lesson 2: Human Activities and the Environment
MELC: Suggest ways to minimize human impact on the environment.
II. Concept Notes
Lesson 1: Cycling of Materials in the Ecosystem
Materials in the ecosystem cycle constantly. This cycling of materials include the oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle, the
water cycle, and the nitrogen cycle. Atoms exist as part of different compounds and cycle between them through an
ecosystem. The materials cycle between the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. The biotic components are the
living parts, such as plants, and the abiotic components are the non-living parts, such as the soil. There is a fundamental
difference in the way energy and matter flows through an ecosystem. Matter flows through the ecosystem in the form of
the non-living nutrients essential to living organisms. So you see, matter is recycled in the ecosystem. Unlike matter,
energy is not recycled through the system.

The Oxygen-Carbon Dioxide Cycle

Plants and Animals DEPEND on each other
Organisms use and produce gases in photosynthesis
and respiration. These gases flow through organisms and the
environment in a cyclic process called the oxygen-carbon
dioxide cycle (Figure 1). The oxygen-carbon dioxide cycle
shows the interdependence among organisms for these
important gases. When plants photosynthesize, they use
carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Oxygen produced by
plants in photosynthesis is used by animals when they respire;
animals in turn produce carbon dioxide. Like animals, plants
also carry out the process of respiration. During respiration,
plants use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. Like animals,
plants also carry out the process of respiration. During
Fig. 1. Carbon Dioxide-Oxygen Cycle
respiration, plants use oxygen and produce carbon dioxide.
Animals take in oxygen from the atmosphere and give off https://arctibiome-ejf.weebly.com/the-carbon-oxygen-
carbon dioxide during respiration. This occurs day and night. nitrogen-and-water-cycles.html
Plants, however, give off oxygen and take in carbon dioxide when they photosynthesize during the day. At night, when plants
are in darkness and cannot photosynthesize, they “breathe” just like animals. They take in oxygen and give off carbon dioxide.
Notice that plants and animals depend on each other for these important gases. Plants produce oxygen needed by animals. In
turn, animals produce carbon dioxide needed by plants.

The Water Cycle

Water circulates around the
environment – the oceans, land, air and
living organisms. The cycling process
involved evaporation, transpiration,
condensation, and precipitation. When
solar energy warms the Earth’s surface,
water evaporates from the oceans, rivers,
lakes, and land. The escape of water
through leaf pores (transpiration) adds
water vapor to the atmosphere. Upon
cooling at higher altitude, water vapor
condenses and forms clouds. Eventually,
precipitation occurs in the form of rain or
snow. On land, plant roots absorb water.
In tropical rainforests, over 90 percent of Fig. 2. The Water Cycle
the moisture is cycled through transpiration https://the-importance-of-water.weebly.com/the-water-cycle.html
in plants. Some water seeps downwards and replenishes the ground water. The excess eventually overflows into the oceans and
the water cycle continues.

The Nitrogen Cycle

About 79 percent of the gases in the atmosphere
is made up of nitrogen gas. Organisms use nitrogen to
build proteins and nucleic acids. Some bacteria convert
nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in soil and
are abundant in the nodules of legumes such as mung beans
. The nitrogen cycle, shown in Figure 3, is a complex
process with three important stages: Nitrogen fixation,
Nitrification, and Denitrification.
Nitrogen fixation is the process by which
atmospheric nitrogen is converted by either a natural or an
industrial means to a form of nitrogen such as ammonia.
In nature, most nitrogen is harvested from the atmosphere
by microorganisms to form ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates
that can be used by plants.
Nitrification is a microbial process by which
reduced nitrogen compounds (primarily ammonia) are
sequentially oxidized to nitrite and nitrate. Ammonia is
present in drinking water through either naturally occurring Fig. 3. The Nitrogen Cycle
processes or through ammonia addition during secondary https://www.sciencefacts.net/nitrogen-cycle.html
disinfection to form chloramines.
Denitrification is a microbially facilitated process where nitrate (NO 3) is reduced and ultimately produces molecular
nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.

Lesson 2: Human Activities and the Environment

Everything that we do affects the earth’s ecosystem one way or another. Everything we leave behind including the
waste we flush, the trash we dispose of, and the trees we cut down will become part of our ecological footprints. Everyone
leaves behind footprints that may negatively affect our ecosystem. Our goal is to minimize these negative effects by
practicing effective habits that may help crate more biodiversity and sustainable living for future generations.

PROBLEMS
Climate Change. In recent years we have observed dramatic changes in the earth’s natural climate. According to the
United Nations Convention on Climate Change, the climate change is attributed directly to human activity. Pollution due to
industrialization and agriculture has damaging effects on earth’s natural systems. Greenhouse gases are accumulating in our
atmosphere, causing the planet’s overall temperature rise. Climate and weather are thus affected.
Declining Biodiversity. Every living thing plays a part in an ecosystem. When a specific type of organism becomes
extinct or is removed from an area, its ecosystem suffers. Building construction, storage of solid wastes, chemical disposal,
and destruction of trees and plant life affect millions of organisms in many areas. Oil spills and chemical leaching into water
sources hurt not just marine life but also other organisms that depend on these water sources.
Humans are the top consumers in many food pyramids. To increase food production, they use methods that
influence food chains and food webs. Some of the farming practices are described as follows:
Monoculture. This is the cultivation of a single crop in large areas. Vast tracts of land are converted to rice farms,
sugar farms, and coconut farms. By limiting the cultivation of different kinds of plants, people also deprive many animals of
their food and home. These animals, some of which feed on insects pests, move to other places. Only the insect pests that
eat the monocrop remain in the area. If uncontrolled, these pests can totally wipe out the monocrop in a short time.
Some soil microorganism depend on specific plants for food. Eliminating these plants is harmful to the microorganisms. Since
microorganisms are responsible for returning plant nutrients to the soil, the cycling of nutrients for reuse of the plants is
disturbed.
Herbicides and Insecticides. Farmers spray their crops with insecticides to kill insect pests, and with herbicides to
kill weeds. However, the chemicals also destroy other organisms, including beneficial insects and soil organisms which help in
decay. Insecticides move up to the food pyramid and accumulate in the body of organisms. The smallest concentration of the
chemical is at the base of the pyramid occupied by producers. The among increases towards the top. The greatest
concentration is found in the top consumers such as birds, mammals, and humans. Many insect pests become resistant to
chemicals. This may lead to the use of increased amounts of pesticide.
 Chemical Fertilizers. Monocrops usually require large amounts of chemical fertilizers. Continuous and uncontrolled
se of chemical fertilizers may increase soil acidity, thus destroying soil structure. Findings show that more fertilizers are
needed for the same amount of yield after years of monoculture. Fertilizers may run off to rivers, ponds, and lakes.
Accumulation of fertilizers may cause the death of these bodies of water. Fertilizers in the water will cause increased growth
of algae and other water plants. They cover the water’s surface and block the passage of oxygen. Thus, less oxygen is
dissolved in water. Furthermore, when algae and aquatic plants die, decay microorganisms use oxygen. Dissolved oxygen
becomes insufficient, causing fish and other aquatic animals to die.

PROBLEM SOLUTIONS
To conserve the environment, some desirable practices are described below.
1. Reusing, Recycling, Reducing. The indiscriminate throwing away of trash can have a huge impact on the
environment. Many Many of the things that we throw can still be recovered, reused, or recycled. If such
measures are not taken, these things may end up in landfills and never decompose. The plastics that we
buy, and use are some of the worst contributors to nonbiodegradable materials in landfills. Most of these
items are made from the polymer polyethylene terephthalate, a compound that is unable to biodegrade or
disintegrate on its own. Leaching of this chemical from landfills may sometimes end up in our water
system and in the bodies of some of the animals we consume. This chemical in plastics is toxic and
hazardous to health. Metals like aluminum and tin cans can be recycled or reused rather than thrown away.
Practicing recycling techniques helps unwanted materials from piling up on the earth’s surface.
2. Use of solar energy. Emissions are fuel wastes or exhausts that are disposed of into the air. We release
emissions from factories, vehicles, and burning. These gases have harmful effects on the ecosystem.
Tapping solar energy to power homes and businesses is one way to reduce emissions that pollute our air.
3. Grow a variety of crops instead of only one crop.
4. Use insects to fight other insects. This is known as biological control of insect pests.
5. Use organic farming using natural fertilizers for crops instead of chemical fertilizers. Some natural
fertilizers are compost and animal manure.

Name: ________________________________________ Grade & Section: ____________ Date: ___________ Score: _______

III. LEARNING TASKS:

A. Learning Task 1: Labelling. Use the terms that follow to label the events of the carbon cycle shown in the figure
below. Write the letter of your answer inside the box.

a. Cellular respiration by animals f. Dissolved carbon dioxide

b. Cellular respiration by plants g. Organic carbon in living things
c. Cellular respiration by decomposers (decomposition) h. Combustion of fossil fuels
 d. Atmospheric carbon dioxide i. Conversion of organic carbon to fossil fuel.
e. Photosynthesis

Learning Task 2: Multiple Choice

Directions: Choose and encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. Why are captive-breeding programs important for endangered species?
A. They allow endangered species to be sold as pets.
B. They are the only way to prevent endangered species from going extinct.
C. They maintain a healthy population of endangered species in captivity.
D. They prevent endangered species from re-entering the wild.
2. How does human population growth and resource use impact biodiversity?
A. It increases the number of resources available to life on Earth.
B. It decreases species richness.
C. It decreases deforestation.
D. It increases biodiversity.
3. Which of the following is the most effective way for humans to reduce biodiversity loss?
A. Creating large preserves in biodiversity hotspots
B. Preserving embryos of endangered species in case of extinction
C. Cutting down trees in the rainforest
D. Introducing exotic species into new areas
4. Carbon naturally moves through ecosystems. However, human activities over time have been impacting the
carbon cycle and causing an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. What is the possible result of this
increase in carbon dioxide?
A. Decreased climate change
B. Increased average global temperature
C. Decreased ocean acidification
D. Increased biodiversity
5. Which human activity would have the largest negative effect on biodiversity?
A. Reproducing at an uncontrolled rate
B. Regulating industrial pollution
C. Developing wildlife sanctuaries
D. Passing legislation to protect an endangered species

Learning Task 3. Table Completion. Complete the table below.

1. Write ways on how human activities can minimize the impact in the following locations or situations.
In your home

In the school

While shopping

2. Describe how each practices may disrupt a food chain or food web.
Monoculture

Use of insecticides

Use of fertilizers

-May GOD Bless You-