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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. 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






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






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






4. Used to include only the population and not their physical environment






5. 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






6. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






7. The oceans






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






9. 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






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






11. Crawling and sessile organsms






12. 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






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






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






15. Conserve water actively






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






17. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






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






20. 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






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






22. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






23. 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






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






25. Rock and soil surface






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






27. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






28. Algae - sponges - clams - snails - sea urchins - starfish - and crabs






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






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






31. 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






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






33. 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






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






35. 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






36. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






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






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






40. 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






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






42. Rhododendrons and pines are more suited for growth in acid oil






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






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






45. Two fates await the ammonia (NH3). some are nitrified or dentrified






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






47. 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






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






49. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






50. Animals that eat both plants and animals