Populations change and respond to interactions with the environment. Any system has a carrying capacity for a given species. Knowledge and understanding: Guidance: A species is a group of organisms that Students should address this topic in the share common characteristics and that context of valid named species, for interbreed to produce fertile offspring. example, use rather “Atlantic salmon” A habitat is the environment in which a than rather “fish”, “Kentucky bluegrass” species normally lives. than and rather than “grass” “silver birch” A niche describes the particular set of “tree”. abiotic and biotic conditions and It is useful to be aware that for some resources to which an organism or organisms, habitats can change over population responds. time as a result of migration. The fundamental niche describes the full This sub-topic provides lots of range of conditions and resources in opportunities for use of simulations and which a species could survive and data analysis. reproduce. The realized niche describes International-mindedness: the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic The change in one community can interactions. impact on other communities (butterfly The non-living, physical factors that effect). influence the organisms and ecosystem—such as temperature, Theory of knowledge: sunlight, pH, salinity, and termed abiotic factors. Through the use of specialized The interactions between the vocabulary, is the shaping of knowledge organisms—such as predation, more dramatic in some areas of herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, knowledge compared to others? disease, and competition—are termed Connections: biotic factors. Interactions should be understood in ESS: Human population carrying terms of the influences each species has capacity (8.4) on the population dynamics of others, and upon the carrying capacity of the environment. others’
Populations change and respond to interactions with the environment. Any system has a carrying capacity for a given species. Knowledge and understanding: A species is a group of organisms that share common characteristics and that interbreed to produce fertile offspring. A habitat is the environment in which a species normally lives. A niche describes the particular set of abiotic and biotic conditions and resources to which an organism or population responds. The fundamental niche describes the full range of conditions and resources in which a species could survive and reproduce. The realized niche describes the actual conditions and resources in which a species exists due to biotic interactions. The non-living, physical factors that influence the organisms and ecosystem—such as temperature, sunlight, pH, salinity, and termed abiotic factors. The interactions between the organisms—such as predation, herbivory, parasitism, mutualism, disease, and competition—are termed biotic factors. Interactions should be understood in terms of the influences each species has on the population dynamics of others, and upon the carrying capacity of the others’ environment. Guidance: Students should address this topic in the context of valid named species, for example, use “Atlantic salmon” rather than “fish”, “Kentucky bluegrass” rather than “grass” and “silver birch” rather than “tree”. It is useful to be aware that for some organisms, habitats can change over time as a result of migration. This sub-topic provides lots of opportunities for use of simulations and data analysis. International-mindedness: The change in one community can impact on other communities (butterfly effect). Theory of knowledge: Through the use of specialized vocabulary, is the shaping of knowledge more dramatic in some areas of knowledge compared to others? Connections: ESS: Human population carrying capacity (8.4)
IB_Environmental_Systems_and_Societies_2016.docx