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






2. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






3. 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






4. Conserve water actively






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






6. When one organism is benefited by the association and the other is not affected






7. 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






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






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






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






11. 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






12. 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






13. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






14. First to resettle a virgin area






15. Rock and soil surface






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






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






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






19. Lichens and moss






20. 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






21. 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






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






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






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






25. Jungles characterized by high temperatures and torrential rains -found in Central Africa - Central America - the Amazon basic - and Southeast Asia






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






27. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






28. Links between oceans and land






29. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






30. Vegetation has evolved adaptations for water conservation such as needle shaped leaves






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






32. 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






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






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






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






36. 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






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






38. Animals that only eat other animals -possess pointed teeth and fang-like canine teeth for tearing flesh -have shorter digestive tracts because the easier digestibility of animal food






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






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






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






42. 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






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






44. 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






45. 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






46. Community in an ecological succession is identified by a dominant species






47. Crawling and sessile organsms






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






49. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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