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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. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






2. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






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






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






5. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






6. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






7. 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






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






9. Lichens and moss






10. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






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






12. The chief disruptive force






13. Include those protists and fungi that decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb the nutrients - they consistitute a vital link in the cycling of material within the ecosystem






14. 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






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






16. Determines water holding capacity






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






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






19. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






20. 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






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






22. First to resettle a virgin area






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






24. 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






25. 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






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






27. Animals that eat both plants and animals






28. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






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






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






32. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






33. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






35. When one organism is benefited by the association and the other is not affected






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






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






38. Links between oceans and land






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






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






41. 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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. 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






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






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






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






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