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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 vegetation that becomes dominant and stable after years of evolutiionary development






2. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






4. Oceans connect to form one continuous body of water - which controls the earth's temperature by absorbing solar heat






5. Autotrophic green plants and chemosynthetic bacteria that use the energy of the sun and simple raw materials to manufacture carbohydrates - proteins - and lipids






6. Links between oceans and land






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






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






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






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






11. Because organisms at the upper levels of the food chain derive their food energy from organisms at lower levels - and because energy is lost from one level to the next - each level can support a successively smaller biomass






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






13. Cold - dry - and inhabited by fir - pine - and spruce trees -much vegetation has evolved adaptations for water conservation such as needle-shaped leaves -Extreme Northern Part of the US and in Southern Canada






14. Two species may rapidly evolve in divergent directions under the strong selection pressure resulting from intense competition. thus - the two species would rapidly evolve greater differences in their niches






15. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






16. Distinct community in a geographic region






17. The stable - living part of the ecosystem in whicih populations exist in balance with each other and with the environment






18. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






19. Individual unit of an ecological system - but the organism itself is composed of smaller units -organs >tissues >cells >molecules >atoms > subatomic particles






20. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






21. Used to include only the population and not their physical environment






22. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






23. 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






24. First to resettle a virgin area






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






26. Algae - sponges - clams - snails - sea urchins - starfish - and crabs






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






28. The metabolically produced CO2 is released to the air. The rest of the orgnaic carbon remains locked whthin an organism until its death (except for wastes given off) - at which time decay processes by bacteria return the CO2 to the air






29. Lichens and moss






30. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






31. Treeless - frozen plain found between the taiga lands and the northern ice sheets - very short summer and thus a very short growing season during which time the ground becomes wet and marshy






32. Without a constant input of energy from the sun - an ecosystem would soon run down - as food is transferred from one level of the food chain to the next - a transfer of energy occurs






33. Encompasses all that is external to the organism and is necessary for its existence






34. In the ocean - the top layer thorugh which light can penetrate - is where all aquatic photosynthetic activity takes place






35. Gaseous CO2 enters the living world when plants use it to produce glucose via photosynthesis. The carbon atoms in CO2 are bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. the plant uses the glucose to make starch - proteins - and fat






36. Every energy transfer involves a loss of energy and each level of the food chain uses some of the energy it obtains from the food for its own metabolism and loses some additional energy in the form of heat






37. Determined by the same decisive factors-temperatures and rainfall






38. 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






39. Composed of populations that are able to exist under the new conditions






40. 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






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






42. The oceans






43. Material is cycled and recycled betweenn organisms and their environments - passing from inorganic forms to organic forms and then back to the inorganic forms






44. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






45. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






46. Monkeys - lizards - snakes - and birds - floor is inhabited by saprophytes






47. Community in an ecological succession is identified by a dominant species






48. Crawling and sessile organsms






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






50. Integrated system of species that are dependent upon one another for survival