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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. Animals that consume dead animals






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






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






4. 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






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






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






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






8. 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






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






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






11. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






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






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






15. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






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






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






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






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






20. Organisms that manufacture their own food






21. 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






22. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






24. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






25. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






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






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






28. Lichens and moss






29. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






32. Animals that eat both plants and animals






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






34. Rock and soil surface






35. The chief disruptive force






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






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






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






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






40. 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






41. 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






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






43. 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






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






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






46. 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






47. First to resettle a virgin area






48. 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






49. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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