Test your basic knowledge |

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. 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






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






3. One or both organisms can't survive without the other






4. 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






5. The chief disruptive force






6. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






8. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






16. Links between oceans and land






17. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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. 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






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






22. 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






23. 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






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






25. 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






26. 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






27. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






29. 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






30. Live in burrows had few birds and mammals are found except those which have developed adaptations for maintaining constant body temperatures






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






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






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






34. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






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






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






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






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






39. First to resettle a virgin area






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






41. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






43. 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






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






45. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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






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






48. 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






49. 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






50. Determines water holding capacity