Test your basic knowledge |

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






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






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






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






5. 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






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






7. 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






8. 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






9. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






11. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






13. 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






14. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






15. Needs constant energy source and cycling of materials between the living system






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






17. The oceans






18. Conserve water actively






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






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






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






22. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






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






25. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






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






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






28. 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






29. The major component of the internal environment of all living things






30. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






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






32. Rhododendrons and pines are more suited for growth in acid oil






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






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






35. 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






36. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






37. 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






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






39. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






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






43. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






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






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






48. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






49. 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






50. 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