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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. Elemental nitrogen is chemically inert and cannot be used by most organisms. Lightning and nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the roots of legumes change the nitrogen into the usable - soluble nitrates






2. The oceans






3. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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






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






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






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






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






9. Animals that consume dead animals






10. 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






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






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






13. Determined by the same decisive factors-temperatures and rainfall






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






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






16. 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






17. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






18. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






19. 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






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. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






23. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






25. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






26. Determines water holding capacity






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






28. 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






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






30. Links between oceans and land






31. One species may be competitively superior in some regions - and the other may be superior in other regions under different environmental conditions. this would result in the elimination of one species in some places and the other in other places






32. 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






33. 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






34. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






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






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






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






38. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






39. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






40. The chief disruptive force






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






42. 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






43. 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






44. Lichens and moss






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






46. Conserve water actively






47. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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