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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. 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






2. 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






3. The ultimate source of energy for all organisms






4. Rivers - lakes - ponds - and marshes






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






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






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






8. 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






9. 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






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






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






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






13. Adaptations for maintaining their internal osmolarity and conserving water






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






15. Developed long legs and many are hoofed






16. Include saprophytic organisms and organisms of decay






17. Characterized by low rainfall - although considerably more than the desert biomes receive -provide no shelter for herbivorous mammals from carnivorous predators -ex: East of the Rockies - steppes of the Ukraine - and the pampas of Argentina






18. Deer - fox - woodchuck - and squirrel






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






20. Contains plankton - passively drifting masses of microscopic photosynthetic and heterotrophic organisms - and nekton - and algae






21. Determines water holding capacity






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






23. Animals that feed on secondary consumer






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






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






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






27. Animals that consume green plants (herbivores)






28. 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






29. 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






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






31. Rock and soil surface






32. 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






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






34. Recycle water - oxygen - and phosphorus






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






36. 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






37. First to resettle a virgin area






38. Determined by the same decisive factors-temperatures and rainfall






39. Polar bears - musk oxen - and arctic hens






40. 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






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






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






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






44. Lichens and moss






45. 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






46. Animals that eat both plants and animals






47. Forest floors contain moss and lichens






48. 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






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






50. 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