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D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes

Polar habitat changes alter ice-dependent breeding, feeding, migration, decomposition, species distributions, and food-web interactions in Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems today.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
D4.3.4
Level
SL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing5%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2015
Most common paperPaper2
Typical marks1–6

Common command terms

  • Outline
  • State
  • Distinguish
  • Describe
  • Analyse
  • Discuss

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Assuming all polar sea ice changes have the same direction in Arctic and Antarctic data.

Recent exam appearances

May 2015Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ17(b)[ 6 ]D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes
May 2014Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ122[ 1 ]D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes
May 2013Paper1 ["SL"] · TZ121[ 1 ]D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes
May 2012Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ27(b)[ 6 ]D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes
May 2012Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ14(a)[ 2 ]D4.3.4—Polar habitat changes
Practice this objective

Coverage 2010–2015 · Updated 16 Jul 2026

Concept essentials

  • Loss of ice habitat can reduce survival and reproduction of ice-dependent species.
  • Warmer polar conditions can increase decomposition, pests, pathogens, and temperate-species range expansion.
  • Penguin colony data can indicate climate effects, but regional sea-ice trends may differ.
ConceptIB Biology SL