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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. The vegetation that becomes dominant and stable after years of evolutiionary development






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






3. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






4. 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






5. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






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






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






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






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






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






13. Community in an ecological succession is identified by a dominant species






14. Distinct community in a geographic region






15. Conserve water actively






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






17. 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






18. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






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






21. First to resettle a virgin area






22. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






23. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






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






25. 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






26. 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






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






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






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






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






31. Autotrophic green plants and chemosynthetic bacteria that use the energy of the sun and simple raw materials to manufacture carbohydrates - proteins - and lipids






32. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






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






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






36. 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






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






38. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






39. Rock and soil surface






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






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






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






43. Region exposed to low tides that undergoes variations in temperature and periods of dryness






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






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






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






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






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






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






50. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay