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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. 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






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






3. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






4. 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






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






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






7. 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






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






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






10. 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






11. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






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






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






14. 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






15. 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






16. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






17. The oceans






18. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






19. 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






20. Animals that eat both plants and animals






21. Animals eat plants and use the digested nutrients to form carbohydrates - fats - and proteins characteristic of the species. a part of these organic compounds is used as fuel in respiration in plants and animals






22. Contains plankton - passively drifting masses of microscopic photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms - and nekton - and algae






23. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






24. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






25. 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






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






27. 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






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






29. First to resettle a virgin area






30. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






31. Distinct community in a geographic region






32. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






33. Lichens and moss






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






35. 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






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






37. 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






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






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






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






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






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






43. Conserve water actively






44. 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






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






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






47. 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






48. 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






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






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