Practice 2.2 Communities and ecosystems with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Describe two ecosystem services provided by healthy ecosystems.
Figure 1 represents a system of aquaculture with four groups of harvestable species.
Figure 1: Integrated aquaculture
Identify one producer in the system illustrated in Figure 1.
Outline one reason why aquaculture production has increased globally.
Describe two negative environmental impacts that may arise from integrated aquaculture.
Explain why this system may cause fewer environmental impacts than systems that farm only fish.
Explain how energy flows through an ecosystem, from sunlight to top predators.
Figure 1: Fact file on the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Figure 2:The round goby and mottled sculpin
Using Figure 1 and 2, identify one feature of the round goby that shows it is an r-selected species.
With reference to Figure 1, outline how the round goby both positively and negatively affects the St Lawrence River ecosystem.
With reference to Figure 1, explain why the realized niche of the mottled sculpin has changed in recent years.
Figure 1: Fact file on North American beavers
Source: adapted from www.sbaa.ca, www.ecology.info, www.tobyhemenway.com and http://acs7.cortland.edu
Figure 2: Algonquin wolf pack territories and protected areas
With reference to Figure 1, outline one reason why there are more beaver remains in wolf faeces during summer.
The number of wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park is estimated to be between 250 and 1000. Outline two reasons why it is so difficult to estimate the number of wolves accurately.
With reference to Figure 2, explain the threats to the future existence of a small and sustainable population of wolves as a result of their protection in limited area.
Explain how climate change can affect ecosystem structure and function.
Describe the process of succession in an ecosystem, distinguishing between primary and secondary succession.
Figure 1: Example of a Tundra food web
Outline the impact that a reduction in the polar bear population may have on other populations in the food web shown in Figure 1.
Outline why a reduction in the polar bear population may increase its probability of extinction.
Explain how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem.
Compare and contrast the impact of humans on the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Examine the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.
Explain the concept of ecological niche and its importance in species coexistence.
Practice 2.2 Communities and ecosystems with authentic IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS - Old) exam questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank mirrors Paper 1, 2 structure, covering key topics like ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability. Get instant solutions, detailed explanations, and build exam confidence with questions in the style of IB examiners.
Describe two ecosystem services provided by healthy ecosystems.
Figure 1 represents a system of aquaculture with four groups of harvestable species.
Figure 1: Integrated aquaculture
Identify one producer in the system illustrated in Figure 1.
Outline one reason why aquaculture production has increased globally.
Describe two negative environmental impacts that may arise from integrated aquaculture.
Explain why this system may cause fewer environmental impacts than systems that farm only fish.
Explain how energy flows through an ecosystem, from sunlight to top predators.
Figure 1: Fact file on the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Figure 2:The round goby and mottled sculpin
Using Figure 1 and 2, identify one feature of the round goby that shows it is an r-selected species.
With reference to Figure 1, outline how the round goby both positively and negatively affects the St Lawrence River ecosystem.
With reference to Figure 1, explain why the realized niche of the mottled sculpin has changed in recent years.
Figure 1: Fact file on North American beavers
Source: adapted from www.sbaa.ca, www.ecology.info, www.tobyhemenway.com and http://acs7.cortland.edu
Figure 2: Algonquin wolf pack territories and protected areas
With reference to Figure 1, outline one reason why there are more beaver remains in wolf faeces during summer.
The number of wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park is estimated to be between 250 and 1000. Outline two reasons why it is so difficult to estimate the number of wolves accurately.
With reference to Figure 2, explain the threats to the future existence of a small and sustainable population of wolves as a result of their protection in limited area.
Explain how climate change can affect ecosystem structure and function.
Describe the process of succession in an ecosystem, distinguishing between primary and secondary succession.
Figure 1: Example of a Tundra food web
Outline the impact that a reduction in the polar bear population may have on other populations in the food web shown in Figure 1.
Outline why a reduction in the polar bear population may increase its probability of extinction.
Explain how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem.
Compare and contrast the impact of humans on the carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Examine the role of humans in the destabilization of ecological systems.
Explain the concept of ecological niche and its importance in species coexistence.