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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. 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






3. Any group of similar organisms that are capable of reproducing






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






5. 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






6. Distinct community in a geographic region






7. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






8. Have cold winters - warm summers - and moderate rainfall -found in the Northeast and Central-Eastern United States and Central Europe






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






10. Receive less rainfall than the temperate forests - have long - cold winters - and are inhabited by single coniferous tree-the spruce -extreme northern parts of Canada and Russia






11. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






12. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






13. 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






14. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






15. Consumer organisms that are higher in hte food chain are usually larger and heavier than those further down






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






17. Live together in an intimate - often permanent association - which may or may not be beneficial to both participants






18. Evolved physical mechanisms that allow them to make Use of the heat produced as a consequence of respiratiion






19. 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






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






21. Ammonia (NH3) is broken down to release free nitrogen - which returns to the beginning of the denitrifying






22. Includes the community and the environment and usually all five kingdoms






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






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






25. 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






26. 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






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






28. 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






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






30. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






32. Organisms that manufacture their own food






33. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






34. (living) includes all living things that directly or indirectly influence the life of the organism including the relationships that exist between organisms






35. Consists of populations of different plants and animal species interacting with each other in a given environment






36. 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






37. Frozen area with no vegetation and terrestrial animals -animals that do inhabit polar regions generally live near the polar oceans






38. More than 70% of earth -plants have little controlling influence in communities -most stable ecosystems; the conditions affecting temperature - amount of available oxygen and cabon dioxide - and amount of suspended or dissolve materials are very stab






39. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






40. 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






41. Food chain is not a simple linear chain but an intricate web






42. Animals that eat both plants and animals






43. Animals that only eat other animals -possess pointed teeth and fang-like canine teeth for tearing flesh -have shorter digestive tracts because the easier digestibility of animal food






44. 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






45. 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






46. Made into nitrites by chemosynthetic bacteria and then to usable nitrates by nitrifying bacteria






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






48. Animals eat the plants and synthesize specific animal proteins form the plant proteins. both plants and animals give off wastes and eventually die






49. Contains plankton - passively drifting masses of microscopic photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms - and nekton - and algae






50. Sunlit layer of the open sea extending to a depth of 250-600ft