Unit 2: Ecosystems and Ecology
Topic 2.2: Communities and Ecosystems Questions
Practice 20 exam-style questions for IB ESS Topic 2.2. Review the question stems below, then unlock the full Question Bank to access markschemes, model answers, and AI grading.
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State what is meant by net productivity (NP).
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Write the formula linking net productivity (NP), gross productivity (GP), and respiration (R).
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Define the term biomass as used in ecological pyramids.
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Outline what is meant by gross productivity (GP).
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Define the term productivity as used in ecosystem studies.
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In the food chain phytoplankton → zooplankton → small fish → tuna, identify the secondary consumer.
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In the food chain oak leaves → caterpillar → robin → sparrowhawk, identify the secondary consumer.
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Define the term energy efficiency in a food chain.
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State one reason why biomass is measured as dry mass rather than fresh mass.
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Outline what a pyramid of numbers shows.
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State the first law of thermodynamics.
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State the second law of thermodynamics.
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State the approximate percentage of energy passed on to the next trophic level (the 10% rule).
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A food chain is phytoplankton → zooplankton → sardine → tuna. Identify the primary consumer.
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Define the term trophic level.
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State the trophic level of a rabbit in the food chain grass → rabbit → fox.
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State the typical units for a pyramid of biomass.
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Outline the role of producers in ecosystems and explain why they are essential for energy flow.
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Outline one strength and one weakness of a pyramid of productivity as a model to represent energy in an ecosystem.
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