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






2. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






3. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






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






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






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






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






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






10. 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






11. Animals that eat both plants and animals






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






13. 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






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






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






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






17. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






19. Conserve water actively






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. 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






27. One species may be competitively superior to the other and drive the second to extinction






28. 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






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






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






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






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






33. 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






34. 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






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






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






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






38. 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






39. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






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






41. The chief disruptive force






42. 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






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






44. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






45. 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






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






47. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






48. 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






49. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






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