Zonation, Succession & Change in Ecosystems (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Exam Questions

Complete the table below by writing either 'low' or 'high' in each of the empty boxes.

Outline how various factors influence the resilience of an ecosystem.

Explain how larger populations can affect ecosystem resilience.

The figure below shows how the dominant vegetation and crop production changes with altitude in the Andes mountain range in South America.

The changes in dominant vegetation shows a distinct pattern.

State the ecological term used to describe this pattern.

Outline how species diversity increases towards the later stages of succession.

Describe the processes involved in the formation of fertile soils from bare rock.

Discuss the factors contributing to the low resilience of coniferous forest monocultures.

Outline why gross productivity is relatively low during early stages of succession.

Outline two ways in which soil conditions can affect the type of community that develops during succession.

Describe how fire and weather-related events can influence succession.

Explain why net productivity changes during ecological succession.

Explain how geomorphological and topographical features can affect the process of succession.

The biomass, biodiversity and productivity of an ecosystem change as the ecosystem undergoes succession.

Explain how.

Discuss the extent to which the resilience of different biomes is influenced by their levels of primary productivity.

Discuss the extent to which succession increases the stability and resilience of ecosystems.

Explain how human activity can divert or modify natural succession.

Discuss how r- and K-strategist species influence patterns of succession in different ecosystems.