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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. 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






2. Algae - sponges - clams - snails - sea urchins - starfish - and crabs






3. Have cold winters - warm summers - and moderate rainfall -found in the Northeast and Central-Eastern United States and Central Europe






4. 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






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






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






7. Distinct community in a geographic region






8. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






10. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






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






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






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






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






16. Determines water holding capacity






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






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






19. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






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






21. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






22. Animals eat the plants and synthesize specific animal proteins form the plant proteins. both plants and animals give off wastes and eventually die






23. Rock and soil surface






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






25. 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






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






27. The chief disruptive force






28. The oceans






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






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






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






32. 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






33. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






34. Lichens and moss






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






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






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






38. 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






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






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






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






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






43. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






44. Region typical of the open seas and can be divided into photic and aphotic zones






45. Have adaptations enabling them to survive in very cod water - with high pressures - and in complete darkness






46. (living) includes all living things that directly or indirectly influence the life of the organism including the relationships that exist between organisms






47. 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






48. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






49. Conserve water actively






50. Active swimmers such as fish - sharks - or whales that feed on plankton and smaller fish