IB ESS SL 2.2.16 Biomass Measurement Questions
Use biomass measurements to compare standing crop and energy available at trophic levels.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Exam points
- describe biomass measurement by sampling a known area, drying and weighing samples, then extrapolating dry mass per unit area
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IB ESS SL 2.2.16 Biomass Measurement Questions question 1
[Maximum number: 3]
Describe how biomass data from a named biome could be collected.
Named biome: tundra/tropical rainforest/desert. [2 max] if no biome is named.
large quadrats to include largest vegetation of area;
stratified sampling so all ecosystems in the biome are sampled / use of random sampling method;
capture and take mass of all organisms in quadrat;
take wet mass and convert to dry mass using representative data if available;
dry samples to obtain biomass;
use average calculated value of biomass per quadrat to extrapolate to represent whole area;
samples taken at different seasons;
representative samples are dug up for vegetation;
use conversion tables to determine tree biomass/height and circumference data used;
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