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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. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






9. Crawling and sessile organsms






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






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






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






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






14. Conserve water actively






15. 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






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






17. 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






18. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






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






20. Symbiotic relationship from which both organisms derive some benefit






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






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






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






24. Links between oceans and land






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






26. 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






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






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






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






30. Only animal life and other heterotrophic life exists






31. Lichens and moss






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






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






34. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






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






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






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






38. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






39. 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






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






41. First to resettle a virgin area






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






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






44. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






45. 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






46. Determine by the amount of decaying plant and animal life in the soil






47. 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






48. 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






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






50. 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