Practice 2.5 Investigating 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.
Explain how you would measure the impact of pollution on a freshwater ecosystem.
Explain how abiotic factors can be measured in an ecosystem investigation.
Choose two factors and describe the measurement method for each.
Describe two methods for estimating population size in an ecosystem.
Explain the importance of replication in ecological field studies.
in a forest ecosystem study
Explain how a clinometer can be used to measure tree height.
Figure 1: Plant species present on two volcano slopes that erupted in the 1880s. Measurements taken in 1930, 1975 and 2015.
| Volcano | Latitude | Eruption date | Type of surface | Number of species (plants) recorded in three separate years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | ||||
| Krakatau, Indonesia | 6 degrees south | 1883 | Ash and lava | 24 |
| Tarawera, New Zealand | 38 degrees south | 1886 | Lava | 2 |
Explain two reasons behind the differences in the number of plant species found.
Explain a method of measuring plant species abundance in volcanic areas.
Describe two methods for measuring soil characteristics in an ecosystem study.
Explain the importance of random sampling in ecological investigations.
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 the concept of indicator species and their use in ecosystem assessment.
Practice 2.5 Investigating 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.
Explain how you would measure the impact of pollution on a freshwater ecosystem.
Explain how abiotic factors can be measured in an ecosystem investigation.
Choose two factors and describe the measurement method for each.
Describe two methods for estimating population size in an ecosystem.
Explain the importance of replication in ecological field studies.
in a forest ecosystem study
Explain how a clinometer can be used to measure tree height.
Figure 1: Plant species present on two volcano slopes that erupted in the 1880s. Measurements taken in 1930, 1975 and 2015.
| Volcano | Latitude | Eruption date | Type of surface | Number of species (plants) recorded in three separate years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | ||||
| Krakatau, Indonesia | 6 degrees south | 1883 | Ash and lava | 24 |
| Tarawera, New Zealand | 38 degrees south | 1886 | Lava | 2 |
Explain two reasons behind the differences in the number of plant species found.
Explain a method of measuring plant species abundance in volcanic areas.
Describe two methods for measuring soil characteristics in an ecosystem study.
Explain the importance of random sampling in ecological investigations.
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 the concept of indicator species and their use in ecosystem assessment.