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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. The chief disruptive force






2. 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






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






4. Animals eat the plants and synthesize specific animal proteins form the plant proteins. both plants and animals give off wastes and eventually die






5. 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






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






7. Vegetation such as vines and eppiphytes






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






9. Frozen area with no vegetation and terrestrial animals -animals that do inhabit polar regions generally live near the polar oceans






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






11. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






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






13. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






14. Determines water holding capacity






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






16. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment






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






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






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






20. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






21. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






22. Animals that eat both plants and animals






23. 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






24. Every energy transfer involves a loss of energy and each level of the food chain uses some of the energy it obtains from the food for its own metabolism and loses some additional energy in the form of heat






25. 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






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






27. Organisms that manufacture their own food






28. Receive less rainfall than the temperate forests - have long - cold winters - and are inhabited by single coniferous tree-the spruce -extreme northern parts of Canada and Russia






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






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






31. 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






32. 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






33. 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






34. Animals that consume primary consumers (carnivores)






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






42. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






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






44. Cannot synthesize their ow food and must depend upon autotrophs or others in the ecosystem to obtain their food






45. 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






46. 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






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






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






49. 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






50. Monkeys - lizards - snakes - and birds - floor is inhabited by saprophytes