Topic 1: Foundation

1.1 Perspectives

1.2 Systems

1.3 Sustainability

Topic 2: Ecology

2.1 Individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems

2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems

2.3 Biogeochemical cycles

2.4 Climate and biomes

2.5 Zonation, succession and change

Topic 3: Biodiversity and conservation

3.1 Biodiversity and evolution

3.1.1—Biodiversity levels

3.1.2—Diversity and resilience

3.1.3—Biodiversity from evolution

3.1.4—Natural selection

3.1.5—Natural selection process

3.1.6—Speciation

3.1.7—Species diversity components

3.1.8—Simpson's reciprocal index

3.1.9—Biodiversity knowledge for conservation

3.1.10 (HL)—Sources of genetic diversity

3.1.11 (HL)—Reproductive isolation

3.1.12 (HL)—Biodiversity hotspots

3.1.13 (HL)—Human-driven selection

3.1.14 (HL)—Artificial selection and resilience

3.1.15 (HL)—Earth history and evolution

3.1.16 (HL)—Geological epochs

3.1.17 (HL)—Mass extinction and speciation

3.1.18 (HL)—Anthropocene debate

3.1.19 (HL)—Human impacts in geological record

3.2 Human impact on biodiversity

3.3 Conservation and regeneration

Topic 4: Water

4.1 Water systems

4.2 Water access, use and security

4.3 Aquatic food production systems

4.4 Water pollution

Topic 5: Land

5.1 Soil

5.2 Agriculture and food

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change

6.1 Introduction to the atmosphere

6.2 Climate change—causes and impacts

6.3 Climate change—mitigation and adaptation

6.4 Stratospheric ozone

Topic 7: Natural resources

7.1 Natural resources—uses and management

7.2 Energy sources—uses and management

7.3 Solid waste

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems

8.1 Human populations

8.2 Urban systems and urban planning

8.3 Urban air pollution

HL.a Environmental law

HL.b Environmental economics

HL.c Environmental ethics

IB ESS HL 3.1.17 (HL)—Mass extinction and speciation Question Bank

• Mass extinctions are followed by rapid rates of speciation due to increased niche availability

• The five mass extinctions in the past have been caused by various factors, such as tectonic plate movements, super-volcanic eruption, climatic changes, sea-level changes

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