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






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






3. Animals that eat both plants and animals






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






5. Determines water holding capacity






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






7. 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






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






9. 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






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






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






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






13. Organisms that manufacture their own food






14. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






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






17. Because organisms at the upper levels of the food chain derive their food energy from organisms at lower levels - and because energy is lost from one level to the next - each level can support a successively smaller biomass






18. Algae - crabs - crustacea - and many different species of fish






19. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






20. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






21. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






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






24. Jungles characterized by high temperatures and torrential rains -found in Central Africa - Central America - the Amazon basic - and Southeast Asia






25. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






26. Links between oceans and land






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






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






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






30. Conserve water actively






31. Crawling and sessile organsms






32. 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






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






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






35. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






36. Include those protists and fungi that decompose dead organic matter externally and absorb the nutrients - they consistitute a vital link in the cycling of material within the ecosystem






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






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






39. First to resettle a virgin area






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






41. 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






42. Distinct community in a geographic region






43. 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






44. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






45. 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






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






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






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






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






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