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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 saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






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






3. The oceans






4. 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






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






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






7. Animals that eat both plants and animals






8. 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






9. Trees such as beech - maple - oaks - and willows shed their leaves during cold winters months






10. Gaseous CO2 enters the living world when plants use it to produce glucose via photosynthesis. The carbon atoms in CO2 are bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. the plant uses the glucose to make starch - proteins - and fat






11. Links between oceans and land






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






13. Determines water holding capacity






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






22. 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






23. Evolve toward a balance in which the predator is a regulatory influence on th prey but not a threat to its survival






24. Nitrates are absorbed by plants are used to syntheisze nucleic acids and plant proteins






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






26. 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






27. Rock and soil surface






28. Organisms that manufacture their own food






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






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






31. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






32. Lichens and moss






33. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






34. 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






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






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






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






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






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. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 3: Freshwater biomes - except very large lakes - are affected by variations in _________. temperature of freshwater bodies varies considerably; they may freeze or dry up - and mud from their floors may be stirred up by






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






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






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






44. 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






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






46. Freshwater Biomes vs. Saltwater 2: In rivers and streams - strong swift currents exist - and thus fish that have developed strong muscles and plants with _____________ have survived






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






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






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






50. 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