IB ESS HL 2.4.4 Biome Categories Question Bank
Identify and compare major terrestrial biome categories using climate and vegetation.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS HL
- Level
- HL
Identify and compare major terrestrial biome categories using climate and vegetation.
Identify four characteristic features of the tropical rainforest biome.
Identify four characteristic features of the tropical rainforest biome
Tropical rainforest has:
a. High species/habitat/niche diversity / high biodiversity / hotspots / many endemic species;
b. High primary productivity / high photosynthetic rate / serve as major carbon sinks / produce a lot of oxygen;
c. High nutrient turnover / high decomposition rate;
d. High rates of insolation;
e. High mean temperatures;
f. Abundant precipitation / high humidity;
g. Nutrient-poor/acidic soils;
h. Thin topsoil layer / rich in organic matter / very deep overall / red colored (rich in iron);
i. Dominated by tall straight trees;
j. Complex/highly branched food webs;
k. Stratified ecosystem / tree buttresses in ground level, dense broad-leaved canopy, emergent trees;
I. Found around the Equator / between Tropics of Cancer \& Capricorn;
m. Low/no seasonality/annual fluctuation in climate (precipitation and temperature);
Note to examiners: Do not credit "found in the Tropics"; see MPI.