IB Biology D4.2 Definitions

This page contains our IB Biology definitions for D4.2. By learning each one of these definitions, you will fully cover the content for IB Biology 'Stability & change'.

All Topic 4 Sub-topics A4.1: Evolution & Speciation (HL)A4.1: Further speciation A4.2: Conservation Of Biodiversity B4.1: Adaptations B4.2: Ecological Niches C4.1: Populations & Communities C4.2: Energy & Matter Transfer D4.1: Natural Selection (HL)D4.1: Further natural selection D4.2: Stability & Change (HL)D4.2: Ecological stability D4.3: Climate Changes (HL)D4.3: Further climate change

bioaccumulate

The process by which toxins are passed up the trophic levels of an ecosystem, concentrating within the organisms they are passed to.

Biomagnification

The process by which toxins are passed up the trophic levels of an ecosystem, concentrating within the organisms they are passed to.

ecosystem

The interaction of a community with its abiotic environment

eutrophication

The dense plant and algal growth due to nitrates that uses up all oxygen and suffocates other life

keystone species

Species within an ecosystem which play an integral role, without which the ecosystem would fail to exist.

mesocosm

An artificial mini-ecosystem

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