Summary and Exam Tips for Interaction Between Organisms II
Interaction Between Organisms II is a subtopic of Interaction between Organisms, which falls under the subject Science in the IB MYP curriculum. Human activities have significantly impacted the interactions between organisms and ecosystems. Human impacts include agriculture, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, population growth, and over-hunting. These activities disrupt natural habitats, leading to a decline in biodiversity. Agriculture often results in habitat destruction, while invasive species outcompete native species for resources. Pollution from agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation introduces harmful chemicals into ecosystems, causing issues like eutrophication and acid rain. Global warming is exacerbated by greenhouse gases like CO and methane, leading to climate change. Conservation efforts, such as in-situ and ex-situ conservation, aim to protect endangered species and maintain biodiversity. Additionally, organisms impact humans through pathogens and parasites, which can cause diseases. The human body combats these through mechanisms like fever and antibody production.
Exam Tips
- Understand Key Terms: Make sure you can define and explain terms like sustainability, invasive species, eutrophication, and conservation.
- Human Impact Examples: Be prepared to discuss specific examples of human impacts on ecosystems, such as deforestation for agriculture or pollution from fossil fuels.
- Conservation Strategies: Know the difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation and be able to provide examples of each.
- Pathogen Mechanisms: Understand how pathogens affect humans and the body's response mechanisms like fever and antibodies.
- Visual Aids: Use diagrams or flowcharts to visualize processes like the greenhouse effect or the impact of invasive species on native ecosystems.
