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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. 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






2. 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






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






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






5. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






6. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






7. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






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






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






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






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






12. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






14. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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






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






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






18. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






19. Algae - crabs - crustacea - and many different species of fish






20. Organisms that manufacture their own food






21. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






22. Without a constant input of energy from the sun - an ecosystem would soon run down - as food is transferred from one level of the food chain to the next - a transfer of energy occurs






23. 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






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






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






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






27. 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






28. The oceans






29. 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






30. 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






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






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






33. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






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






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






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






38. Links between oceans and land






39. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






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






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






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






43. Receive less rainfall than the temperate forests - have long - cold winters - and are inhabited by single coniferous tree-the spruce -extreme northern parts of Canada and Russia






44. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






45. 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






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






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






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