Glossary
Behavioral Mechanisms
Actions or movements an organism takes in response to environmental cues.
Example:
When the temperature drops, bears exhibit a behavioral mechanism by seeking out dens for hibernation.
Cooperative Behavior
Actions performed by individuals that benefit other members of their group, often increasing the fitness of the group or species.
Example:
A pack of wolves hunting together to take down a large prey animal demonstrates cooperative behavior, as it increases their collective success in obtaining food.
Diurnal Activity
The characteristic of an animal being active primarily during the day.
Example:
Most songbirds are diurnal activity, foraging for food and singing during daylight hours.
Environmental Sensing
The ability of an organism to detect and respond to changes in its external surroundings.
Example:
A deer uses its keen sense of smell for environmental sensing to detect a nearby predator.
Fight-or-Flight Response
A rapid physiological reaction to perceived danger, preparing the body to either confront or flee from the threat.
Example:
When a rabbit spots a fox, its heart rate and breathing accelerate, and adrenaline surges, initiating the fight-or-flight response.
Hormones
Chemical signals produced by glands in one part of an organism that travel through the body to affect target cells or organs elsewhere.
Example:
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, signaling cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.
Kinesis
A non-directional change in an animal's movement rate or turning frequency in response to a stimulus.
Example:
Woodlice will move faster and turn more frequently in dry, unfavorable conditions until they randomly stumble into a damp, preferred area, illustrating kinesis.
Natural Selection
The process by which individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to their offspring.
Example:
The development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a powerful example of natural selection at work, as only resistant strains survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics.
Nocturnal Activity
The characteristic of an animal being active primarily during the night.
Example:
Owls, with their excellent night vision and hearing, are well-adapted for nocturnal activity as they hunt for prey in the dark.
Photoperiodism
An organism's physiological response to the relative lengths of day and night, often influencing processes like flowering or reproduction.
Example:
Farmers can manipulate the flowering of chrysanthemums, which are short-day plants, by controlling the amount of darkness they receive, demonstrating photoperiodism.
Phototropism
The growth of a plant in response to a light stimulus, typically bending towards the light source.
Example:
If you place a houseplant near a window, you'll notice its stem and leaves gradually turn towards the light, a clear example of phototropism.
Physiological Mechanisms
Internal changes within an organism, such as gene expression or hormone release, that adjust its body in response to the environment.
Example:
A plant's leaves changing color in autumn is a physiological mechanism triggered by decreasing daylight and temperature.
Predator Warnings
Communication signals used by organisms to alert others of the presence of a predator or danger.
Example:
Meerkats standing guard will emit a distinct alarm call to signal to their colony that a hawk is overhead, serving as a predator warning.
Taxis
A directional movement of an animal towards or away from a specific stimulus.
Example:
Bacteria moving directly towards a higher concentration of nutrients in their environment is an example of positive chemotaxis, a type of taxis.