IB ESS HL 2.1.29 Hl Life Cycles and R K Strategies Questions
Prepare for IB ESS HL 2.1.29 by linking K-strategist maturity, clutch size and survivorship curves to life-cycle patterns and vulnerability to extinction.
Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
ESS HL
Level
HL
Exam points
explain how slow maturity and small clutches make K-strategist populations grow slowly and face extinction risk
draw and label a typical K-strategist survivorship curve with correct axes and late-life decline
explain K-strategist survivorship by linking high survival to reproductive age with increased late-life mortality
IB ESS HL 2.1.29 Hl Life Cycles and R K Strategies Questions question 1
[Maximum number: 3]
Question (a)
(a)
Draw a sketch graph showing a typical survivorship curve for a "K-strategist" species.
[ 2 ]
Survivorship curve:
[1] for the correct shape of the graph; [1] for both axes labelled correctly / x-axis age/% of maximum lifespan and y-axis number of survivors/individuals/number of survivors per 100/1000;
Question (b)
(b)
Outline one reason for the shape of the curve from part 3(a)(i) above.
[ 1 ]
Any one of the following: most K species survive until after offspring bearing age/maturity; death rate increases near the end of the lifespan; a few K individuals will die at a young age;