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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. 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






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






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






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






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. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






7. Nitrates are absorbed by plants are used to syntheisze nucleic acids and plant proteins






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






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






10. 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






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






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






13. 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






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






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






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






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






18. The oceans






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






20. 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






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






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






23. 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






24. Cannot synthesize their ow food and must depend upon autotrophs or others in the ecosystem to obtain their food






25. 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






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






27. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






29. The chief disruptive force






30. Links between oceans and land






31. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






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






34. Lichens and moss






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






36. 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






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






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






39. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






40. Two fates await the ammonia (NH3). some are nitrified or dentrified






41. Distinct community in a geographic region






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






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






44. Plants growing on other plants - trees grow closely together; sunlight hardly reaches the forest floor






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






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






47. 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






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






49. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






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