IB ESS SL 2.5.1 Zonation Question Bank
Explain zonation as spatial change in community composition along an environmental gradient.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
Explain zonation as spatial change in community composition along an environmental gradient.

Figure:Salinity variation in the Large Ocean Management Area

Figure:Water-surface temperature variation across the LOMA

Figure:temperature scale
Suggest one reason for the zonation seen in Figure: Water-surface temperature variation across the LOMA.
depth of water / shallow water is warmer / shallow water is easier to warm up / deep water is cooler;
position in relation to land / distance from land;
latitude / distance from equator / northern areas are cooler / southern areas are warmer;
cold ocean currents (Labrador) coming down from the north and warm ocean currents (Gulf Stream) coming up from the south;
Marking guidance:
Do not accept 'climate change / global warming / variation in climate / salinity / temperature'.