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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 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






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






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






4. 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






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






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






7. Must be maintained at an optimal level -organisms have adaptations necessary for protection against extremes






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






9. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






10. 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






11. 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






12. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






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






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






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






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






18. 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






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






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






21. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






22. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






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






24. First to resettle a virgin area






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






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






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






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






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






30. Distinct community in a geographic region






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






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






33. 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






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






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






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






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






38. 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






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






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






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






42. 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






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






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






45. 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






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






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






48. 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






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






50. Crawling and sessile organsms