IB ESS Exam Review: Topic 2 Terms

Question 1

Habitat vs. niche

Answer 1

Habitat: environment where a species lives.
Niche: environment and lifestyle that a species has. Includes habitat, food, activity, interactions.

Question 2

Fundamental niche

Answer 2

The potential mode of existence of a species given its adaptations- no limits (perfect world/scenario) - full range of conditions and resources in which the species can survive and reproduce.

Question 3

Realized niche

Answer 3

Describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions.

Question 4

Limiting factors

Answer 4

A resource in limited supply that can affect the growth of a population.

Question 5

Photosynthesis equation

Answer 5

6H2O + 6CO2 –> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 6

Respiration equation

Answer 6

C6H12O6 + 6O2 –> 6H2O + 6CO2 + energy

Question 7

Bioaccumulation

Answer 7

Build up of non-biodegradable pollutant within an organism or trophic level.

Question 8

Biomagnification

Answer 8

Increase in concentration of pollutant along a food chain.

Question 9

NPP equation

Answer 9

GPP - Respiratory loss

Question 10

GSP equation

Answer 10

Food eaten - fecal loss

Question 11

NSP equation

Answer 11

GSP - Respiratory loss

Question 12

Types of biomes

Answer 12

Aquatic, forest, grassland, desert, tundra.

Question 13

Succession vs. zonation

Answer 13

Succession: Long-term process in which communities in an area change over time.
Zonation: A special distribution pattern of organisms over a particular area.

Question 14

Quadrat method

Answer 14

A square frame used to sample organisms in an area. EVALUATE.

Question 15

Lincoln Index

Answer 15

N = n1*n2/nm
N = total population
n1 = number of animals marked in sample 1.
n2 = number of animals marked in sample 2
nm = number of marked animals recaptured.

Question 16

Species richness

Answer 16

The number of species in a community and is a useful comparative measure.

Question 17

Species diversity

Answer 17

The function of the number of species and their relative abundance and can be compared using an index.

Question 18

Productivity

Answer 18

The conversion of energy into biomass in a given period of time.

Question 19

Simpson’s diversity - know the meaning.

Answer 19

• Only useful when comparing two similar habitats or the same habitat over time.

Question 20

Role of PH in water

Answer 20

Key abiotic factor that impacts aquatic plants ability to uptake ions from within the water and also impacts metabolism of plants and animals living in the water. Measure of the concentration of the H+ ion.

Question 21

Detritivores

Answer 21

Consumers that consume dead organic material like leaf litter. Play a vital role in recycling nutrients from biomass back into the environment.