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






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






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






4. 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






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






6. 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






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






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






9. 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






10. Determines water holding capacity






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






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






13. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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






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






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






17. Include reproduction and protection from predators and destructive weather






18. Animals that consume only plants or plant foods






19. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






20. 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






21. Rock and soil surface






22. Individuals belonging to the same species use the same resources and if a particular resource is limited - then these organisms must compete with one another






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






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






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






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






27. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






28. 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






29. Consists of populations of different plants and animal species interacting with each other in a given environment






30. Material is cycled and recycled betweenn organisms and their environments - passing from inorganic forms to organic forms and then back to the inorganic forms






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






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






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






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






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






36. Needs constant energy source and cycling of materials between the living system






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






38. 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






39. Affect the type of vegetation that can be supported






40. The chief disruptive force






41. 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






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






43. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






44. 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






45. Regiong beneatht he photic zone that receives no light






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






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






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






49. 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






50. First to resettle a virgin area