Earth Science II Oceanography · Ocean Ecosystems
Virginia SOL OC.2
Virginia SOL OC.2 is part of the Ocean Ecosystems strand in Earth Science II Oceanography (Science). Under this Standards of Learning objective, students investigate and understand that ocean ecosystems support a great diversity of life and the factors influencing biodiversity. Below is what OC.2 covers in plain language, the specific skills it is assessed on, the key concepts to review, and how to practice OC.2 for the Virginia SOL test.
What SOL OC.2 means
Investigate and understand that ocean ecosystems support a great diversity of life and the factors influencing biodiversity.
Skills you’ll practice for OC.2
- Explain how biotic and abiotic factors affect biodiversity within marine ecosystems.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about factors that promote and control the locations of primary productivity and its effect on ocean ecosystems.
- Identify characteristics of major groups (kingdom, phylum, and class) of marine organisms.
- Make, support, and evaluate a claim about how unique morphological features of marine organisms help them survive and thrive in their respective marine niches.
- Explain the benefit of daily vertical migration for zooplankton and its effects on ocean ecosystems.
- Develop and use a model to predict the transfer of energy within ocean ecosystems and predict the effects of natural and anthropogenic events on ecosystem health.
- Compare the relative roles of chemosynthesis and photosynthesis in biological productivity of ocean ecosystems.
- Debate advantages and disadvantages of a solution to a natural or anthropogenic threat to a marine organism.
Key concepts covered by OC.2
- biotic factors
- abiotic factors
- biodiversity
- marine ecosystems
- primary productivity
- claim evaluation
- ocean ecosystems
- marine organisms
- taxonomy
- kingdom
- phylum
- class
- morphological features
- niche adaptation
- survival mechanisms
- vertical migration
- zooplankton
- ecosystem effects
- energy transfer
- ecosystem modeling
- anthropogenic events
- ecosystem health
- chemosynthesis
- photosynthesis
- biological productivity
- debate
- threat mitigation
- anthropogenic threats
How to study and practice SOL OC.2
Start with a quick diagnostic to see whether OC.2 is already solid, then work each skill above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see our Virginia SOL practice tests guide and how to study for the SOL test.
Frequently asked questions about SOL OC.2
What is Virginia SOL OC.2?
SOL OC.2 is a Earth Science II Oceanography Standard of Learning in the Ocean Ecosystems strand. It expects students to investigate and understand that ocean ecosystems support a great diversity of life and the factors influencing biodiversity.
What skills does SOL OC.2 cover?
SOL OC.2 is assessed on 8 skills: explain how biotic and abiotic factors affect biodiversity within marine ecosystems; make, support, and evaluate a claim about factors that promote and control the locations of primary productivity and its effect on ocean ecosystems; identify characteristics of major groups (kingdom, phylum, and class) of marine organisms; make, support, and evaluate a claim about how unique morphological features of marine organisms help them survive and thrive in their respective marine niches; explain the benefit of daily vertical migration for zooplankton and its effects on ocean ecosystems; develop and use a model to predict the transfer of energy within ocean ecosystems and predict the effects of natural and anthropogenic events on ecosystem health; compare the relative roles of chemosynthesis and photosynthesis in biological productivity of ocean ecosystems; debate advantages and disadvantages of a solution to a natural or anthropogenic threat to a marine organism.
What strand of Earth Science II Oceanography is SOL OC.2 in?
SOL OC.2 belongs to the Ocean Ecosystems reporting strand of the Earth Science II Oceanography Virginia Standards of Learning.
How do I study and practice for SOL OC.2?
Start with a diagnostic to see whether OC.2 is already solid, then work the 8 skills above with guided notes, flashcards, and SOL-style practice questions. For official released items, see the Virginia SOL practice tests guide.