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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. 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






2. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






3. 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






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






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






6. 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






7. First to resettle a virgin area






8. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






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






11. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






12. 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






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






14. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






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






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






18. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






19. 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






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






21. 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






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






23. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






24. 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






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






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






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






28. 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






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






30. 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






31. Nutrients - water - and sunlight limitations aid in maintaining populations at relatively constant levels






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






33. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






36. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






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






39. 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






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






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






42. Consists of populations of different plants and animal species interacting with each other in a given environment






43. Animals that consume dead animals






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






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






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






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






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






49. 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






50. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens