IB ESS HL 2.2.26 Maximum Sustainable Yield Question Bank

The following guide for using the markbands suggests certain features that may be offered in responses. The five headings coincide with the criteria given in each of the markbands (although "ESS terminology" has been conflated with "Understanding concepts"). This guide simply provides some possible inclusions and should not be seen as requisite or comprehensive. It outlines the kind of elements to look for when deciding on the appropriate markband and the specific mark within that band.

Answers may include:
- understanding concepts and terminology of natural income, net productivity, natural capital, stock sustainability, replenishment, maximum sustainable yield, rates of harvest, renewable/non-renewable, goods/services, etc
- breadth in addressing and linking net productivity and natural income with sustainable harvesting, maximum sustainable yield, impacts of extraction/transport/processing, management of resources, remaining stock/capital, their applicability to abiotic/biotic resources, renewable/non

renewable resources, goods/services, etc
- examples of net productivity/natural income of named resources eg timber, freshwater, fish populations, river processing organic waste, fossil fuels, impacts of unsustainable extraction eg bycatch, access roads/infrastructure in forests, etc
- balanced analysis of the extent to which net productivity and natural income are applicable and sufficient concepts for ensuring sustainable use of a range of resources
- a conclusion that is consistent with, and supported by, analysis and examples given eg "Both concepts can be very useful in assessing the sustainability of harvesting but net productivity is more limited in its applications since it can only be applied to biotic resources and neither of the concepts take into account any unsustainable damage that may occur through the actual extraction of a resource."

Please see markbands on page 18.