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






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






3. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






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






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






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






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






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






10. 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






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






12. Two fates await the ammonia (NH3). some are nitrified or dentrified






13. 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






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






15. 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






16. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. Distinct community in a geographic region






25. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






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






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






29. Nutrients - water - and sunlight limitations aid in maintaining populations at relatively constant levels






30. Determined by the same decisive factors-temperatures and rainfall






31. Because organisms at the upper levels of the food chain derive their food energy from organisms at lower levels - and because energy is lost from one level to the next - each level can support a successively smaller biomass






32. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






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






34. 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






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






36. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






37. Animals eat plants and use the digested nutrients to form carbohydrates - fats - and proteins characteristic of the species. a part of these organic compounds is used as fuel in respiration in plants and animals






38. 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






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






40. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






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






43. 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






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






45. First to resettle a virgin area






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






47. An essential component of amino acids and nucleic acids - which are the building blocks of all living things






48. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






49. Crawling and sessile organsms






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