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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. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






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






3. Active swimmers such as fish - sharks - or whales that feed on plankton and smaller fish






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






5. Lichens and moss






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






15. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






16. 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






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






18. Live in burrows had few birds and mammals are found except those which have developed adaptations for maintaining constant body temperatures






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






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






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






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






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






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. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






26. First to resettle a virgin area






27. The chief disruptive force






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






29. 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






30. 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






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






32. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






33. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






34. 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






35. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






36. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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. 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






39. 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






40. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






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






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






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






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






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






46. Crawling and sessile organsms






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






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






49. Links between oceans and land






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