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B4.2.9—Herbivore and plant adaptations

Herbivores and plants show reciprocal adaptations, with feeding structures, digestion strategies, spines, stings and toxins shaping plant-herbivore interactions across ecosystems.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
B4.2.9
Level
HL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing3%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2025
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–4

Common command terms

  • State
  • Outline
  • Suggest

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Listing plant defences when asked specifically for herbivore feeding adaptations.

Recent exam appearances

November 2025Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ16(c)[ 1 ]B4.2.9—Herbivore and plant adaptations
May 2025Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ28(b)[ 4 ]B4.2.9—Herbivore and plant adaptations
May 2025Paper1B ["HL"] · TZ11(c)[ 1 ]B4.2.9—Herbivore and plant adaptations
Practice this objective

Coverage 2025–2025 · Updated 15 Jul 2026

Concept essentials

  • Herbivores can have specialised mouthparts or teeth for feeding on plants.
  • Gut microbes or digestive structures can help herbivores process cellulose.
  • Plants can resist herbivory with spines, thorns, stings or toxins.
  • Plant-herbivore interactions can drive reciprocal adaptations.
ConceptIB Biology HL