Introduction
One of the most common ESS student questions is: Do I need to memorize all the biomes for exams? With the new IB ESS syllabus (first assessment 2026), biomes remain a crucial part of understanding ecosystems, energy flows, biodiversity, and sustainability.
The good news: you don’t need to memorize every detail of every biome. Instead, the syllabus expects you to know the major biomes, their defining features, and how human activities affect them. Examiners reward students who can use examples and case studies flexibly rather than reciting facts.
Quick Start Checklist: Biomes in ESS
- Focus on major global biomes: rainforest, desert, savanna/grasslands, tundra, temperate forest, aquatic ecosystems.
- Learn their climate, biodiversity, and productivity.
- Be ready to discuss human impacts (deforestation, agriculture, urbanization).
- Use at least one global and one local case study per biome.
- Apply biomes to systems thinking and sustainability issues.
Major Biomes to Know
1. Tropical Rainforest
- Hot, wet climate with high biodiversity.
- Rapid nutrient cycling but poor soils.
- Deforestation for logging and agriculture is a major issue.
2. Desert
- Extremely dry, with large temperature swings.
- Low biodiversity but species have unique adaptations.
- Human pressures include water extraction and desertification.
