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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. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






2. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






3. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






4. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






5. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






6. 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






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






8. 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






9. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






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






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






12. The stable - living part of the ecosystem in whicih populations exist in balance with each other and with the environment






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






14. 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






15. Distinct community in a geographic region






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






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






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






19. 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






20. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






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






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






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






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






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






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






27. 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






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






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






30. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






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






33. First to resettle a virgin area






34. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






35. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






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






37. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






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






40. Crawling and sessile organsms






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






42. 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






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






44. Composed of populations that are able to exist under the new conditions






45. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






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






48. Lichens and moss






49. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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