Marine Science · Field Journal / Diario de campo

Life & the Living Ocean

Day 01 · Biotic & Abiotic Factors
Explore how living organisms and nonliving conditions shape marine ecosystems.

SC.912.L.17.7 · FORMATIVE FIELD EXPEDITION
Off / Apagado
01 / Interactive field notebookLearning first · Independent check after

What makes an ocean ecosystem work?

A reef is more than fish and coral. Sunlight, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and the living community all interact.

Un arrecife es mucho más que peces y corales. La luz solar, la temperatura, la salinidad, el oxígeno disuelto y los organismos vivos interactúan entre sí.

01 Learn02 Apply03 Explain04 Check05 Remediate06 Verify
Underwater coral reef with marine organisms
FIELD OBSERVATION · Coral reefs contain living organisms and nonliving environmental conditions. / Arrecifes: factores bióticos y abióticos.
WATCH & NOTICE · Identify one organism and one nonliving condition. / Identifica un organismo y una condición no viva. Video requires internet.

🌿 Biotic / Biótico

Living organisms or organisms that were once alive.

Organismos vivos u organismos que antes estuvieron vivos.

  • Seagrass / hierbas marinas
  • Phytoplankton / fitoplancton
  • Fish / peces
  • Coral animals / animales coralinos

💧 Abiotic / Abiótico

Nonliving physical and chemical conditions of the environment.

Condiciones físicas y químicas no vivas del ambiente.

  • Salinity / salinidad
  • Temperature / temperatura
  • Sunlight / luz solar
  • Dissolved oxygen / oxígeno disuelto
Observe / ObservaSeagrass grows in shallow water where enough light reaches the leaves.Las hierbas marinas crecen en aguas poco profundas donde reciben suficiente luz.
Connect / ConectaLess sunlight can reduce photosynthesis and alter habitat conditions.Menos luz solar puede reducir la fotosíntesis y modificar el hábitat.
Predict / PrediceIf seagrass declines, some marine animals may lose food or shelter.Si disminuyen las hierbas marinas, algunos animales pueden perder alimento o refugio.
Across ecosystems: marine · freshwater · land

Biotic factors exist in all three habitats. Marine reefs have corals and salt water; freshwater ponds have algae and low-salinity water; coastal dunes have grasses and soil moisture. Classify the organism and the physical or chemical condition in each place.

En los tres ambientes hay factores bióticos. Los arrecifes tienen corales y agua salada; los estanques tienen algas y agua poco salina; las dunas costeras tienen pastos y humedad del suelo. Identifica los organismos y las condiciones físicas o químicas.

Scientific model / Modelo científico

Sunlight (abiotic) → photosynthesis in seagrass (biotic) → habitat and food for animals (biotic). A change in one factor can affect the entire system.

Luz solar (abiótico) → fotosíntesis de las hierbas marinas (biótico) → refugio y alimento para animales (biótico).

Teacher notes · Scientific accuracy & accessibility
Items now apply and compare marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments under SC.912.L.17.7. The examples are formative and not a district-approved test. Coral is an animal; the coral reef also includes its physical framework. Video availability depends on its host. Images require internet. Supports must not reveal the answer before the independent attempt. Standard alignment and media rights require final review before commercial distribution.
02 / Expedition checkIndependent evidence · Evidencia independiente

Ready to investigate? / ¿Listo para investigar?

Learning target (SC.912.L.17.7): Classify and compare biotic and abiotic components of marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems; explain an interaction.

Optional ELL, read aloud, focus and large-answer supports are in the small bar above. You can change them at any time.
Teacher settings / Configuración docente

Prototype: teacher may preselect supports. Formal teacher/student permission controls are not yet implemented.