IB ESS Study Guide

Not living things (rocks, water, air, etc), Sunlight, water, rocks, air, weather/climate, dirt

The process by which a species adjusts to its environment over time through genetic variation and natural selection, enhancing its survival and reproductive success

Add brief notes to a diagram or graph

Focus on human laws and regulations

Urbanization, invasive species

Use an idea, equation, principle, theory, or law in relation to a given problem or issue

Marine (oceans), Freshwater

VOCs, NOx, DDT, SOx, CFCs, Greenhouse Gases

Renewable energy derived from organic materials, such as plants or animal waste, converted into fuel for heat or electricity generation

Pollution caused by organic matter, such as bacteria, viruses, and organic waste, which can degrade water quality and harm aquatic organisms

Living things (plants and animals), Producers (plants), disease, parasites, bacteria

Obtain a numerical answer showing the relevant stages of working

Maximum sustainable population based on available resources.

Chlorofluorocarbons, synthetic compounds once used in refrigerants, solvents, and aerosol propellants, known for their role in ozone depletion

Pollution caused by the release of harmful chemicals into the environment, often from industrial processes, agriculture, or improper disposal of waste

The long-term patterns of temperature, humidity, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions in a particular region, averaged over decades to centuries

Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a calculation

Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items or situations, referring to both (all) of them throughout

The process by which water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds or dew

Display information in a diagrammatic or logical form

Pollution resulting from construction activities, including sedimentation, noise, air pollution from machinery, and habitat destruction

Plate tectonic boundary where two plates collide, resulting in one plate being forced beneath the other, often leading to mountain formation and volcanic activity

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, a synthetic pesticide widely used in the mid-20th century for insect control but later banned due to its persistence in the environment and harmful effects on wildlife and human health

Temperate conditions, four seasons, pine and broadleaf mix

Reach a conclusion from the information given

Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase, concept, or physical quantity

A model depicting the transition of a society's population from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as it progresses from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system

Make clear by reasoning or evidence, illustrating with examples or practical application

Manipulate a mathematical relationship to give a new equation or relationship

Give a detailed account

Less than 25cm of precipitation, very low primary productivity

Produce a plan, simulation, or model

Obtain the only possible answer

Offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments, factors, or hypotheses Opinions or conclusions should be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence

Make clear the differences between two or more concepts or items

Plate tectonic boundary where two plates move away from each other, typically occurring along mid-ocean ridges and leading to the formation of new oceanic crust

Represent by means of a labeled, accurate diagram or graph, using a pencil. A ruler (straight edge) should be used for straight lines. Diagrams should be drawn to scale. Graphs should have points correctly plotted (if appropriate) and joined in a straight line or smooth curve

Emphasis on conserving the environment

Range of conditions organisms can withstand

Species interactions resulting in energy flow, cultural significance, supporting services

A system of interactions between organisms in and with an environment

Obtain an approximate value

Make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations

The process by which liquid water changes into water vapor (a gas) as it absorbs heat energy from its surroundings

The combined process of evaporation from the Earth's surface and transpiration from plants, contributing to the overall moisture content of the atmosphere

Consider an argument or concept in a way that uncovers the assumptions and interrelationships of the issue

Give a detailed account, including reasons or causes

species' ability to reproduce

Renewable energy derived from the heat stored beneath the Earth's surface, typically used for heating buildings or generating electricity

Gross Primary Productivity

Predominantly grasses, higher biodiversity

Gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide, that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming

Renewable energy generated by harnessing the gravitational force of flowing or falling water to drive turbines, producing electricity

Provide an answer from a number of possibilities

The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil

Pollution caused by non-living, inorganic substances like heavy metals, acids, salts, and sediment, which can accumulate in aquatic environments and impact aquatic life

Use knowledge and understanding to recognize trends and draw conclusions from given information

Human development dividing ecosystems.

Provide evidence to support or defend a choice, decision, strategy, or course of action

Add labels to a diagram

Pollution caused by excessive artificial light, such as streetlights, outdoor advertising, and urban development, which can disrupt ecosystems, affect

A method used to estimate the population size of a species in a particular area based on the capture-mark-recapture technique, where individuals are captured, marked, released, and then recaptured

Give a sequence of brief answers with no explanation

Obtain a value for a quantity

The layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the stratosphere, extending from about 50 to 85 kilometers (31 to 53 miles) in altitude, where most meteors burn up upon entering the atmosphere.

Pollution caused by the release of heavy metals into the environment, often from industrial processes, mining, or improper disposal, posing risks to human health and ecosystems

Volcanism, natural disasters

Pollution caused by excessive or disturbing noise from sources such as transportation, industrial activities, or urban development, which can disrupt ecosystems and harm wildlife

Coal, Natural Gas, Oil, Nuclear.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP

10% rule

Give a brief account or summary

The movement of water through soil or porous materials due to gravity, often contributing to groundwater recharge

Organic compounds that persist in the environment, accumulate in organisms, and can travel long distances, posing health risks to humans and wildlife, examples include DDT and PCBs

Amount of a species in an ecosystem

Graphical representations showing the age and sex distribution of a population at a given point in time, typically displayed as a bar graph with age cohorts on the horizontal axis and population size on the vertical axis

Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface

Give an expected result

eats plants

plants

Creation of biomass and growth of living things.

The ecological process of plant colonization and establishment in a newly formed or bare habitat lacking soil, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat

Pollution caused by the release of ionizing radiation from sources such as nuclear accidents, radioactive waste, or medical facilities, which can have harmful effects on living organisms

Pollution carried by surface water runoff from urban, agricultural, or industrial areas into aquatic ecosystems, often containing contaminants like pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals

eats primary consumers

The ecological process of plant colonization and establishment in an area previously inhabited by living organisms but disturbed by events like fire, logging, or farming

A measure of biodiversity that takes into account both the number of species present and their relative abundance within a community

Represent by means of a diagram or graph (labeled as appropriate). The sketch should give a general idea of the required shape or relationship and should include relevant features

Renewable energy derived from sunlight, typically through photovoltaic panels or solar collectors, to generate electricity or heat water

The number of different species present in a given area or community

K/r Species, Generalists/Specialists

Give a specific name, value, or other brief answer without explanation or calculation

The layer of Earth's atmosphere located above the troposphere, extending from about 10 to 50 kilometers (6 to 31 miles) in altitude, where the ozone layer is found and temperature generally increases with altitude

The process by which a substance transitions directly from a solid to a gas without passing through the liquid phase, such as snow evaporating into water vapor

Propose a solution, hypothesis, or other possible answer

Reliance on technology

Highest trophic level (Apex Predator)

The outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from about 85 kilometers (53 miles) upward, characterized by high temperatures and the presence of the ionosphere

Renewable energy generated by harnessing the kinetic energy of tides caused by gravitational interactions between the Earth, moon, and sun, typically through underwater turbines

Consider the merits or otherwise of an argument or concept. Opinions and conclusions should be presented clearly and supported with appropriate evidence and sound argument