01
How does distance from a road affect lichen coverage on tree trunks as a bioindicator of air quality?
Variables · IV: distance from the road. DV: % lichen cover (quadrat on the trunk). Control: tree species, trunk aspect, height, bark type.
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Environmental Systems & Societies · IA research questions
12 IB Environmental Systems and Societies IA ideas
Written and cross-checked by IB Diploma graduates: Alexander (41), Alejandro (40), Martina (40), Victoria (38), Martin (35), Maria (34)
· Checked against official IB guidance · Editorial policy
The ESS individual investigation is like a science IA: one focused research question with a clear independent and dependent variable, primary data you collect yourself, and analysis that links back to an environmental system or an environmental value. Fieldwork along a gradient (distance, depth, land use) works especially well.
Scope: Collect enough data for a statistical test or a clear trend (at least 5 sampling points, repeated). Follow safe and low-impact fieldwork practice — no protected sites, no disturbing wildlife. ~1500 words.
02
How does footpath trampling (soil compaction) affect plant species richness along a transect away from the path?
Variables · IV: distance from path centre / penetrometer reading. DV: species richness per quadrat. Control: slope, aspect, sampling area, time of year.
03
How does soil pH affect the abundance of a specific indicator plant across a site?
Variables · IV: soil pH. DV: % cover or count of the indicator species. Control: light, drainage, quadrat size, sampling method.
04
How does light intensity under a woodland canopy affect ground-layer plant cover?
Variables · IV: light intensity (lux). DV: % ground cover per quadrat. Control: soil type, slope, canopy species, time of day for readings.
05
How does distance downstream from an outfall or confluence affect the freshwater invertebrate biotic index?
Variables · IV: distance downstream. DV: BMWP / biotic index score from a kick sample. Control: sampling effort, substrate type, flow rate, season.
06
How does water temperature along a stream relate to dissolved oxygen, and what does that mean for fish habitat?
Variables · IV: water temperature. DV: dissolved oxygen (mg/L). Control: time of day, depth of sample, flow, meter calibration.
07
How does urban surface type (grass, tarmac, gravel) affect near-surface air temperature?
Variables · IV: surface type. DV: air temperature 5 cm above the surface. Control: time, cloud cover, shading, thermometer, height.
08
How does grazing intensity (dung count as a proxy) affect sward height and plant diversity in grassland?
Variables · IV: dung density per quadrat. DV: sward height and species richness. Control: soil, aspect, quadrat size, sampling date.
09
How does salinity affect the germination rate of a crop species, as a model of soil salinisation?
Variables · IV: NaCl concentration of the watering solution. DV: % germination after a fixed period. Control: seed batch, temperature, light, substrate.
10
How does the age of a reclaimed or rewilded plot affect its stage of plant succession and diversity?
Variables · IV: years since reclamation. DV: species richness and % bare ground. Control: soil type, area sampled, surrounding land use.
11
Is there a relationship between household size and weekly recycling mass in a sampled street?
Variables · IV: household size. DV: recycling mass per week (kg). Control: collection week, sampling method, consent, anonymity.
12
How does hedgerow width affect bird or invertebrate diversity along it?
Variables · IV: hedgerow width. DV: species count from a timed survey. Control: survey length, weather, time of day, observer.
Sources & verification
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
These Environmental Systems & Societies ideas are original iBacalao starting points, not official IB research questions. Check the current Environmental Systems & Societies subject guide, your assessment session and your school's safety/ethics rules before committing to a question.
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