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






2. 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






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






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






5. 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






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






7. 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






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






9. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






10. Animals that eat both plants and animals






11. 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






12. Determines water holding capacity






13. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






14. 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






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






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






17. Organisms that manufacture their own food






18. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






19. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






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






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






22. Animals that consume dead animals






23. Rock and soil surface






24. 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






25. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






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






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






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






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






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






32. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






33. 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






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






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






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






37. 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






38. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






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






41. When one organism is benefited by the association and the other is not affected






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






43. The orderly process by which one biotic community replaces or succeeds another until a climax community is established






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






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






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






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






48. 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






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






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