ASVAB General Science Biology and Ecology Flashcards

Which type of symbiosis benefits one organism while the other is neither helped nor harmed?

Answer: Commensalism

Commensalism is the relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected.

What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?

Answer: Break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients

Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms, returning nutrients to the soil.

Which organelle is responsible for producing ATP through cellular respiration?

Answer: Mitochondria

Mitochondria are called the powerhouse of the cell because they generate ATP via cellular respiration.

A population of rabbits grows rapidly with unlimited food. This best describes which type of population growth?

Answer: Exponential growth

Exponential growth occurs when a population increases at a constant rate without resource limitations.

What term describes the maximum population size an environment can sustainably support?

Answer: Carrying capacity

Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support given available resources.

Which process moves water from the soil into a plant and eventually into the atmosphere?

Answer: Transpiration

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plant leaves, driving water uptake from the roots.

Which blood cells are primarily responsible for fighting bacterial infections?

Answer: White blood cells

White blood cells (leukocytes) are the main immune cells that attack and destroy pathogens like bacteria.

Which level of biological organization is ABOVE an organism but BELOW a community?

Answer: Population

A population consists of individuals of the same species living in the same area, between the organism and community levels.

What is the correct order of nitrogen fixation in the nitrogen cycle?

Answer: Atmosphere → soil bacteria → plants → animals

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert atmospheric N₂ into ammonia in the soil, which plants then absorb.

A scientist discovers a new organism that has a cell wall but no nucleus. What kingdom does it most likely belong to?

Answer: Monera (Bacteria)

Prokaryotes like bacteria have cell walls but lack a membrane-bound nucleus, placing them in kingdom Monera.

Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor in an ecosystem?

Answer: Predators

Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, such as predators, prey, and plants.

During meiosis, how does the chromosome number in daughter cells compare to the parent cell?

Answer: It is halved

Meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half to produce haploid gametes (sperm and eggs).

Which biome is characterized by permafrost, very low precipitation, and dominated by mosses and lichens?

Answer: Tundra

The tundra biome has permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), minimal precipitation, and sparse vegetation like mosses and lichens.

What is the term for the variety of species living within a particular region or ecosystem?

Answer: Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of species, genes, and ecosystems within a given area.