STAAR (2019) Biology Practice 3

Front

What is the San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nana?

Back

A light reddish-brown translucent salamander about 2–5 cm in length, found only in Spring Lake and a portion of the San Marcos River.

Front

What human activity would most likely decrease the survival of the San Marcos salamander?

Back

Increasing water consumption that decreases the flow of clean water from the springs that feed the river.

Front

What is mRNA and its role in protein synthesis?

Back

mRNA (messenger RNA) is a strand that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Front

How does mRNA relate to the DNA template strand during transcription?

Back

The mRNA strand is complementary to the DNA template strand; uracil pairs with adenine instead of thymine.

Front

What is a biomass pyramid?

Back

A graphical representation showing the distribution of biomass among different trophic levels in an ecosystem.

Front

Why do organisms at higher trophic levels have less biomass?

Back

They have less energy available to them than organisms at lower trophic levels due to energy loss at each trophic level.

Front

What is ATP and its significance in cellular processes?

Back

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy carrier in cells, produced during cellular respiration.

Front

What is secondary succession?

Back

A process of ecological recovery that occurs in an area where a disturbance has destroyed a community but left the soil intact.

Front

What role do pioneer species play in secondary succession?

Back

Pioneer species help to establish soil and create conditions for larger, more complex plant species to grow.

Front

What happens to sunlight availability during the decomposition of pioneer species?

Back

Increased amounts of sunlight are able to reach the ground while the pioneer species are decomposing.