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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. 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






2. Animals that consume dead animals






3. 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






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






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






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






7. Links between oceans and land






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






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






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






11. First to resettle a virgin area






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






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






14. Chief animal inhabitant is the moose; however - the black bear - wolf - and some birds






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






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






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






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






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






20. 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






21. 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






22. Lichens and moss






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






25. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






26. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






27. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






28. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






29. Region on the continental shelf that contains ocean area with depths up to 600 feet and extends several hundred miles from the shores






30. 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






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






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






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






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






35. 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






36. 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






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






38. Crawling and sessile organsms






39. Distinct community in a geographic region






40. 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






41. The oceans






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






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






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






45. 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






46. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






47. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






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