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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. 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






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






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






4. 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






5. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






6. 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






7. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






8. 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






9. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






11. The oceans






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






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






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






15. 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






16. 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






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






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






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






20. 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






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






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






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






24. Animals that eat both plants and animals






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






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






27. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






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






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






30. 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






31. (living) includes all living things that directly or indirectly influence the life of the organism including the relationships that exist between organisms






32. First to resettle a virgin area






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






34. Crawling and sessile organsms






35. Sunlit layer of the open sea extending to a depth of 250-600ft






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






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






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






39. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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






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






42. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






43. 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






44. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






46. Links between oceans and land






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






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






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






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