ESS STUDY GUIDE
Anonymous IB Helper
IB ESS
FINAL STUDY GUIDE
___
By: Anonymous IB Helper ;)
Introduction
Welcome to your ESS Final Study Guide, an essential tool designed to bridge the
interdisciplinary knowledge you've gained in Environmental Systems and Societies.
Aimed at reinforcing your understanding of how environmental systems interact with
human societies, this guide offers concise summaries, key terms, and strategic
examination insights. It's structured to reflect the ESS syllabus, ensuring a
comprehensive review to prepare you for your exams. Let this guide be your companion
in your final revision, helping you approach your assessments with confidence and a
deeper appreciation for our planet's sustainability.
, 2
Table of Contents
UNIT 1 - Foundations of Environmental Systems and Societies 3
Unit 1.1 - Environmental Value Systems 4
Unit 1.2 - Systems and Models 6
Unit 1.3 - Systems and Models 7
Unit 1.4 - Sustainability 9
Unit 1.5 - Humans and Pollution
11
UNIT 2 - Ecosystems and Ecology 13
Unit 2.1 - Species and Population 14
Unit 2.2 - Communities and Ecosystems 17
Unit 2.3 - Flows of Energy and Matter 20
Unit 2.4 - Biomes, Zonation, and Succession
23
UNIT 3 - Biodiversity and Conservation 26
Unit 3.1 - An Introduction to Biodiversity 27
Unit 3.2 - Origins of Biodiversity 30
Unit 3.3 - Threats to Biodiversity 32
Unit 3.4 - Conservation of Biodiversity
34
UNIT 4 - Water, Food Production Systems and Society 36
Unit 4.1 - Introduction to Water Systems 37
Unit 4.2 - Access to Freshwater 40
Unit 4.3 - Aquatic Food Production Systems 44
Unit 4.4 - Water Pollution
50
UNIT 5 - Soil Systems 54
Unit 5.1 - Soil Systems 55
Unit 5.2 - Terrestrial Food Production Systems 56
Unit 5.3 - Soil Degradation and Conservation 57
, 3
UNIT 6 - Atmospheric Systems and Society 58
Unit 6.1 - Introduction to the Atmosphere 59
Unit 6.2 - Stratospheric Ozone 61
Unit 6.3 - Photochemical Smog 63
Unit 6.4 - Acid Deposition
65
UNIT 7 - Climate Change and Energy 68
Unit 7.1 - Energy Choices and Security 69
Unit 7.2 - Climate Changes and Impacts 70
Unit 7.3 - Mitigation and Adaptation 71
UNIT 8 - Human Systems and Resource Use 72
Unit 8.1 - Human Population Dynamics 73
Unit 8.2 - Resource Use in Society 74
Unit 8.3 - Solid Domestic Waste 75
Unit 8.4 - Human Population Carrying Capacity 76
, 4
UNIT 1 - Foundations of Environmental Systems
and Societies
Anonymous IB Helper
IB ESS
FINAL STUDY GUIDE
___
By: Anonymous IB Helper ;)
Introduction
Welcome to your ESS Final Study Guide, an essential tool designed to bridge the
interdisciplinary knowledge you've gained in Environmental Systems and Societies.
Aimed at reinforcing your understanding of how environmental systems interact with
human societies, this guide offers concise summaries, key terms, and strategic
examination insights. It's structured to reflect the ESS syllabus, ensuring a
comprehensive review to prepare you for your exams. Let this guide be your companion
in your final revision, helping you approach your assessments with confidence and a
deeper appreciation for our planet's sustainability.
, 2
Table of Contents
UNIT 1 - Foundations of Environmental Systems and Societies 3
Unit 1.1 - Environmental Value Systems 4
Unit 1.2 - Systems and Models 6
Unit 1.3 - Systems and Models 7
Unit 1.4 - Sustainability 9
Unit 1.5 - Humans and Pollution
11
UNIT 2 - Ecosystems and Ecology 13
Unit 2.1 - Species and Population 14
Unit 2.2 - Communities and Ecosystems 17
Unit 2.3 - Flows of Energy and Matter 20
Unit 2.4 - Biomes, Zonation, and Succession
23
UNIT 3 - Biodiversity and Conservation 26
Unit 3.1 - An Introduction to Biodiversity 27
Unit 3.2 - Origins of Biodiversity 30
Unit 3.3 - Threats to Biodiversity 32
Unit 3.4 - Conservation of Biodiversity
34
UNIT 4 - Water, Food Production Systems and Society 36
Unit 4.1 - Introduction to Water Systems 37
Unit 4.2 - Access to Freshwater 40
Unit 4.3 - Aquatic Food Production Systems 44
Unit 4.4 - Water Pollution
50
UNIT 5 - Soil Systems 54
Unit 5.1 - Soil Systems 55
Unit 5.2 - Terrestrial Food Production Systems 56
Unit 5.3 - Soil Degradation and Conservation 57
, 3
UNIT 6 - Atmospheric Systems and Society 58
Unit 6.1 - Introduction to the Atmosphere 59
Unit 6.2 - Stratospheric Ozone 61
Unit 6.3 - Photochemical Smog 63
Unit 6.4 - Acid Deposition
65
UNIT 7 - Climate Change and Energy 68
Unit 7.1 - Energy Choices and Security 69
Unit 7.2 - Climate Changes and Impacts 70
Unit 7.3 - Mitigation and Adaptation 71
UNIT 8 - Human Systems and Resource Use 72
Unit 8.1 - Human Population Dynamics 73
Unit 8.2 - Resource Use in Society 74
Unit 8.3 - Solid Domestic Waste 75
Unit 8.4 - Human Population Carrying Capacity 76
, 4
UNIT 1 - Foundations of Environmental Systems
and Societies
