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C4.1.6—Negative feedback control

Negative feedback control explains how ecological evidence links organisms, resources and interactions to population size, distribution or community structure in a habitat.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
C4.1.6
Level
SL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing1%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2025
Most common paperPaper1
Typical marks1

Common command terms

  • Identify
  • Explain

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Confusing a population with a community or with all organisms in an ecosystem.

Recent exam appearances

May 2025Paper1A ["SL"] · TZ327[ 1 ]C4.1.6—Negative feedback control
May 2015Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ221[ 1 ]C4.1.6—Negative feedback control
Practice this objective

Coverage 2015–2025 · Updated 16 Jul 2026

Concept essentials

  • Negative feedback control must be linked to the correct ecological unit, method or species interaction.
  • The evidence for negative feedback control depends on measurable abundance, distribution, survival or resource patterns.
  • Negative feedback control is clearest when cause, ecological process and population outcome are kept distinct.
  • Field or graph evidence for negative feedback control needs biological interpretation, not values alone.
ConceptIB Biology SL