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






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






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






4. 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






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






6. 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






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






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






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






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






11. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






12. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






13. Rock and soil surface






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






15. 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






16. 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






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






18. 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






19. Defines the functional role of an organism in its ecosystem -described what the organism eats - where and how it obtains its food - what climatic factors it can tolerate and which are optimal - the nature of its parasites and predators - where and ho






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






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






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






23. 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






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






25. 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






26. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






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






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






31. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






32. Conserve water actively






33. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






34. 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






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






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






37. 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






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






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






40. First to resettle a virgin area






41. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






42. 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






43. 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






44. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






45. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 1: Freshwater is _______________ which results in the passage of water into the cell. Freshwater organisms have homeostatic mechanisms to maintain water balance by the regular removal of the excess water. these include






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






47. 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






48. 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






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






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