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






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






3. More than 70% of earth -plants have little controlling influence in communities -most stable ecosystems; the conditions affecting temperature - amount of available oxygen and cabon dioxide - and amount of suspended or dissolve materials are very stab






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






5. Treeless - frozen plain found between the taiga lands and the northern ice sheets - very short summer and thus a very short growing season during which time the ground becomes wet and marshy






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






7. Distinct community in a geographic region






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






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






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






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






12. 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






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






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






15. 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






16. 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






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






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






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






20. 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






21. Animals that consume dead animals






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






23. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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






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






26. Every energy transfer involves a loss of energy and each level of the food chain uses some of the energy it obtains from the food for its own metabolism and loses some additional energy in the form of heat






27. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






29. 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






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






31. Rock and soil surface






32. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 1: Freshwater is _______________ which results in the passage of water into the cell. Freshwater organisms have homeostatic mechanisms to maintain water balance by the regular removal of the excess water. these include






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






34. Links between oceans and land






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






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






37. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






38. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






39. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






40. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






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






42. 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






43. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






44. Frozen area with no vegetation and terrestrial animals -animals that do inhabit polar regions generally live near the polar oceans






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






46. First to resettle a virgin area






47. Evolved physical mechanisms that allow them to make Use of the heat produced as a consequence of respiratiion






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






49. 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






50. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit