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






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






3. 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






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






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






6. 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






7. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






8. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






9. Each member of a food chain uses some of the energy it obtains from its food for its own metabolism and loses some additional energy in the form of heat






10. 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






11. Distinct community in a geographic region






12. 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






13. 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






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






15. First to resettle a virgin area






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






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






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






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






20. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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






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






23. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






25. 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






26. 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






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






28. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






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






30. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






31. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






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






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






35. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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






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






38. Animals that eat both plants and animals






39. 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






40. Determines water holding capacity






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






42. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






43. The oceans






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






45. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






46. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






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






48. Nekton and benthos - scavengers - and predators (fiercely competitive)






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






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