Practise IB Biology HL B4.1 by interpreting distribution and tolerance data, comparing biomes, and explaining desert, rainforest, saline and waterlogged adaptations.
66 questions in this syllabus scope, with question parts counted together.
117 papers analysed · Tagging incomplete
Which adaptation would allow plants to live in saline irrigated soil?
Small, shallow roots
Active uptake and compartmentalization of mineral ions to maintain homeostasis
Increased transpiration to replace water in stems
Leaves with a large surface area for increased photosynthesis
A community living in the water of an estuary was used to investigate how climate change may affect ecological systems. The food web in this community included phytoplankton (producers), zooplankton (consumers) and saprotrophic bacteria. Small plastic mesocosms were set up with water from the estuary containing only these three groups of organisms. The mesocosms were subjected to four different temperatures and two nutrient levels (control and nutrients added) to replicate local variations of the conditions in the estuary during springtime warming.
The graph shows the biomass of the community for each of the eight mesocosms at the end of the experimental period. Biomass was measured in terms of the amount of carbon present. The horizontal line indicates the initial biomass.
Suggest two abiotic factors, other than temperature and nutrient supply, that may affect the production of biomass of the grasslands.
Using the information provided, discuss whether pH of water bodies is likely to limit the distribution of cane toads in Australia.
Coral reefs are among the most spectacular ecosystems on Earth. They support a rich diversity of life and provide economic benefits to the people who use them. In Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean north of Australia the following data were collected. Coral cover is the percentage of the reef surface covered by live hard coral.
Calculate the difference in coral cover in 1996 and 2002. No working required.
……%
Describe the evidence that the ocean temperature has an effect on coral cover.
The illustration shows a Gersmehl diagram of the taiga biome.
Explain how the amount of litter in a tropical rainforest would differ from the taiga's and how this would be represented in a Gersmehl diagram.
Which conditions are characteristics of tundra biomes?
Extreme temperature range and high precipitation
High temperatures and high precipitation
Moderate temperatures with distinct seasonal changes
Low temperatures with low precipitation
Prickly pear cactus plants are well adapted to desert conditions. The stems are the flattened structures visible in the image and the leaves are reduced to spines. The white spots in the image are groups of spines.
Which characteristic describes the advantage of one of their adaptations?
Leaves are reduced to spines to lose less water.
Spines increase surface area for more photosynthesis.
Stems are flattened to allow more water to be stored between periods of rain.
Waxy cuticle on the stems is very thin to allow rapid absorption of rain.
