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PCAT Biology Ecology

Subjects : pcat, biology
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The nitrogen locked up in the wastes and dead tissues is released by the action of the bacteria of decay - which convert the proteins into ammonia






2. Includes climate - temperature - availability of light and water - and the local topology






3. Include those protists and fungi that decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb the nutrients - they consistitute a vital link in the cycling of material within the ecosystem






4. Determines the nature of plant and animal life in the soil






5. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






6. Live in burrows had few birds and mammals are found except those which have developed adaptations for maintaining constant body temperatures






7. Region exposed to low tides that undergoes variations in temperature and periods of dryness






8. Rock and soil surface






9. One that exerts control over the other species that are present






10. First to resettle a virgin area






11. Receive less than ten inches of rain each year; the rain is concentrated within a few heavy cloudbursts -ex: Sahara in Africa and Gobi in Asia






12. Organisms that manufacture their own food






13. Includes all portions of the planet that support life -the atmosphere - the lithosphere - and the hydrosphere






14. When a parasite benefits at the expense of the host






15. Animals eat plants and use the digested nutrients to form carbohydrates - fats - and proteins characteristic of the species. a part of these organic compounds is used as fuel in respiration in plants and animals






16. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






17. The orderly process by which one biotic community replaces or succeeds another until a climax community is established






18. Each member of a food chain uses some of the energy it obtains from its food for its own metabolism and loses some additional energy in the form of heat






19. The vegetation that becomes dominant and stable after years of evolutiionary development






20. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






21. Region typical of the open seas and can be divided into photic and aphotic zones






22. One species may be competitively superior in some regions - and the other may be superior in other regions under different environmental conditions. this would result in the elimination of one species in some places and the other in other places






23. Jungles characterized by high temperatures and torrential rains -found in Central Africa - Central America - the Amazon basic - and Southeast Asia






24. Elemental nitrogen is chemically inert and cannot be used by most organisms. Lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots of legumes change the nitrogen into the usable - soluble nitrates






25. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 3: Freshwater biomes - except very large lakes - are affected by variations in _________. temperature of freshwater bodies varies considerably; they may freeze or dry up - and mud from their floors may be stirred up by






26. Evolve toward a balance in which the predator is a regulatory influence on th prey but not a threat to its survival






27. Defines the functional role of an organism in its ecosystem -described what the organism eats - where and how it obtains its food - what climatic factors it can tolerate and which are optimal - the nature of its parasites and predators - where and ho






28. Active swimmers such as fish - sharks - or whales that feed on plankton and smaller fish






29. Determine by the amount of decaying plant and animal life in the soil






30. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 2: In rivers and streams - strong swift currents exist - and thus fish that have developed strong muscles and plants with _____________ have survived






31. Region on the continental shelf that contains ocean area with depths up to 600 feet and extends several hundred miles from the shores






32. Have adaptations enabling them to survive in very cod water - with high pressures - and in complete darkness






33. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






34. One or both organisms can't survive without the other






35. Nutrients - water - and sunlight limitations aid in maintaining populations at relatively constant levels






36. The chief disruptive force






37. Group of organisms of the same species living together in a given location






38. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






39. Free-living organisms that feed on other living organisms






40. Nekton and benthos - scavengers - and predators (fiercely competitive)






41. Energy is transferred from the original sources in green plants through a series o organisms with repeated stages of consumption and finally decomposition






42. Body temperature is very close to that of their surroundings -as temperature rises - these organisms become more active






43. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






44. Trees such as beech - maple - oaks - and willows shed their leaves during cold winters months






45. Characterized by low rainfall - although considerably more than the desert biomes receive -provide no shelter for herbivorous mammals from carnivorous predators -ex: East of the Rockies - steppes of the Ukraine - and the pampas of Argentina






46. Determines water holding capacity






47. Individuals belonging to the same species use the same resources and if a particular resource is limited - then these organisms must compete with one another






48. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 1: Freshwater is _______________ which results in the passage of water into the cell. Freshwater organisms have homeostatic mechanisms to maintain water balance by the regular removal of the excess water. these include






49. An essential component of amino acids and nucleic acids - which are the building blocks of all living things






50. Vegetation has evolved adaptations for water conservation such as needle shaped leaves