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






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






3. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






5. 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






6. 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






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






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






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






10. Gaseous CO2 enters the living world when plants use it to produce glucose via photosynthesis. The carbon atoms in CO2 are bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. the plant uses the glucose to make starch - proteins - and fat






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






12. Crawling and sessile organsms






13. 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






14. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






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






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






17. 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






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






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






20. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






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






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






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






25. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






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






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






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






29. 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






30. 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






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






32. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






43. 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






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






45. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






46. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






47. 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






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






49. 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






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