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IB ESS SL Topic 3 Biodiversity Question Bank

Practise IB ESS SL Topic 3 Biodiversity through questions on species diversity, conservation and human impacts.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
ESS SL
Level
SL

Covered syllabus points

3.1 Biodiversity and evolution3.2 Human impact on biodiversity3.3 Conservation and regeneration

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 1

[Maximum number: 1]
Location of Yasuni National Park in Ecuador

Figure:Location of Yasuni National Park in Ecuador

Species richness of Yasuni National Park

Table:Species richness of Yasuni National Park

Ocelot phototrap survey data from Yasuni National Park

Table:Ocelot phototrap survey data from Yasuni National Park

Define biodiversity.

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 2

[Maximum number: 2]
Figure: Photographs showing examples of species found in Brazil

Figure:Photographs showing examples of species found in Brazil

Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) IUCN Red List status - endangered

Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) IUCN Red List status - endangered

Figure for Question Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 2 — IB ESS SL
Figure for Question Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 2 — IB ESS SL
Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) IUCN Red List status - Critically endangered

Brazilian merganser (Mergus octosetaceus) IUCN Red List status - Critically endangered

Giant metallic ceiba borer (Euchroma gigantea) IUCN Red List status - none, has not yet been assessed by the IUCN

Giant metallic ceiba borer (Euchroma gigantea) IUCN Red List status - none, has not yet been assessed by the IUCN

Figure: Deforestation in the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado

Figure:Deforestation in the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado

Figure for Question Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 2 — IB ESS SL

\section*{Paraná pine trees (Araucaria angustifolia) IUCN Red List status - critically endangered} media/File:Araucaria-caxias-do-sul.jpg, by Ricardo Frantz]

media/File:Golden_lion_tamarin_portrait3.jpg, by Jeroen Kransen]

\section*{Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) IUCN Red List status - least concern} caiman\#/media/File:Jacare_de_papo_amarelo_zoo.jpg, by Miguelrangeljr]

\section*{Pau brasil (Caesalpinia echinata) IUCN Red List status - endangered} File:ClosedeflordePaubrasil.jpg, by Mauroguanandi]

media/File:Mergus_octosetaceus_2.png, by Prof. Sávio Freire Bruno - http://www.wikiaves.com.br/182433\&t=s\&s=10048]

media/File:Buprestidae_-_Euchroma_gigantea.JPG, by Hectonichus]

the_atlantic_forest/

Cerrado map: http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/agriculture/soy/soyreport/soy_and_deforestation/the_cerrado/

Figure:Photographs showing examples of species found in Brazil

Parana pine: critically endangered. Golden lion tamarin: endangered. Broad-snouted caiman: least concern. Pau brasil: endangered. Brazilian merganser: critically endangered. Giant metallic ceiba borer: not yet assessed by the IUCN.

Figure:Fact file on human impacts on biodiversity

Only about 10% of the original Atlantic Rainforest and around 20% of the original Cerrado vegetation remain. Losses have resulted from land clearance for crops such as sugar cane, coffee, soy beans and biofuel crops; cattle ranching; forest plantations; urban expansion including Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia; infrastructure development such as road building; and commercial logging. Organizations support projects to restore forest habitats and encourage sustainable use of natural forest resources.

With reference to the species listed in Figure: Photographs showing examples of species found in Brazil, identify two factors that may have contributed to their status given on the IUCN Red List.

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 3

[Maximum number: 5]

Question (a)

(a)
Figure: Condor cape and Chumash traditional dance

Figure:Condor cape and Chumash traditional dance

Figure: Tourists watching condors on the Californian coast

Figure:Tourists watching condors on the Californian coast

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km^2 home for California condors and an important biodiversity hotspot.
In 2008 the company agreed with environmental NGOs to preserve 90% of the property, including condor feeding grounds, while development could occur on the remaining 10%.

Figure:Fact file on the California condor

- Figure: Fact file on the California condor: California condors are scavengers and eat large amounts of carrion.
- They are among the world's rarest birds; 2012 counts estimated 405 total, including 226 wild and 179 captive.
- They are critically endangered and may travel up to 250 km in search of carrion.
- They mature and reproduce slowly, breeding at 6-8 years old and laying only one egg every two years.
- They are significant to many Californian Native American groups and traditional myths.

Figure:Chumash cultural relationship with condors

- Figure: Chumash cultural relationship with condors: Chumash people historically lived in central and southern coastal California; their descendants still live there.
- Old cave paintings show people wearing condor feathers for ceremonies and dances.
- Condors were once sacrificed during rituals; a legend says if the condor becomes extinct, so too will the Chumash.

Identify two arguments for the conservation of California condors.

[ 2 ]

Question (b)

(b)
Table for roles in the conservation of California condors

Table for roles in the conservation of California condors

Figure: Northwest Condor Watch Facebook page

Figure:Northwest Condor Watch Facebook page

Figure:Northwest Condor Watch Facebook page

Northwest Condor Watch is a communication space that links communities caring about returning condors to their northern home range.

Tejon Ranch is a 1000 km^2 home for California condors and an important biodiversity hotspot.
In 2008 the company agreed with environmental NGOs to preserve 90% of the property, including condor feeding grounds, while development could occur on the remaining 10%.

Figure:Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act

- Figure: Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act: the Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act made it illegal in 2008 to use lead bullets for hunting deer, bear and elk in designated California condor range.
- The act applies only in California; neighbouring states still allow lead bullets for game hunting.
- Organisations such as the National Rifle Association oppose the lead bullet ban.

Figure:California condor captive breeding programme

- Figure: California condor captive breeding programme: removing eggs can make the mother lay another, increasing the total number of eggs, but some chicks then need hand rearing.
- Chicks are fed with condor-like glove puppets to prevent attachment to humans.
- Captive-bred condors have been trained to avoid power lines and people, reducing deaths due to power lines.
- The programme costs about US$5\mathrm{US}\$5 million per year, roughly US$13,000\mathrm{US}\$13{,}000 per bird.
- The aim is three populations: wild California, wild Arizona and captive, each with 150 birds and at least 15 breeding pairs.

With reference to the resource booklet, complete the table by identifying one way in which each of the following are playing a role in the conservation of California condors.

[ 3 ]

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation question 4

[Maximum number: 11]

Question (a)

(a)

Outline the mechanisms by which a terrestrial species may have evolved from an aquatic ancestor.

[ 4 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Explain the ways in which species diversity and an abundance of plant and herbivore species will increase the resilience of an ecosystem.

[ 7 ]
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