Plants and Animal Responses Flashcards
Auxin
Plant hormone which elongates cells in the shoots of plants but causes cells to not elongate in the roots
Batesian Mimicry
A form of mimicry where a harmless species resembles a dangerous or unpalatable one
Circadian Rhythm
A biological rhythm linked to the day-night cycle with a length of 24 hours
Circalunar Rhythm
A biological rhythm with a length of 29.5 days
Circatidal Rhythm
Biological rhythm linked to changes in tide, with a length of 12 hours
Commensalism
An interspecific relationship where one species benefits while the other is unaffected
Competitive Exclusion Principle (Gause’s Law)
Law that states that no two species can co-exist with the exact same ecological niche
Courtship
Different things animals do to attract a mate
Circannual Rhythm
Biological rhythm linked to the seasons, or changes in day length, with a length of 365 days
Day-neutral plants
Plants that flower all year round and are not affected by the day length
Ecological niche
Physical and biological conditions/factors that a population faces in its habitat
Endogenous rhythm
Biological rhythms driven by an internal clock
Entrainment
Act of resetting the internal biological clock to match the environment
Exogenous rhythm
Biological rhythm driven by external, environmental factors
Exploitation
An interspecific relationship where one species benefits while the other is harmed
Free-running period
Period of time where an animals biological rhythm is running under constant environmental conditions
Herbivory
Exploitation involving an animal feeding on a plant
Hierachies
A ranking system that exists in populations, with the strongest members at the top and the weakest members at the bottom
Home Range
The extended area outside the territory where animals forage for food
Homing
The ability of an organism to find its way home over unfamiliar areas
Interspecific Relationships
Interactions between two individuals from different species
Intraspecific Relationships
Interactions between two individuals who belong to the same species
K strategy
Reproductive strategy where a small number of offspring are produced with a high energy input
Kinesis
A non-directional response where the rate of movement or activity is influenced by the external or environmental stimulus
Klinokinesis
The change in the rate of turning of an organism, where the rate is faster in unfavorable conditions
Lek
The area where animals come together and perform mating displays to attract mates for breeding
Long day plants
Plants that flower in the summer when the day length exceeds a critical length
Migration
Regular movement of whole populations to a specific location
Mimicry
Where one species resembles another in some way
Monogamy
Having one mate for a breeding season
Mullerian Mimicry
A form of mimicry where two unpalatable species resemble each other
Mutualism
An interspecific relationship where both species benefit
Nastic-response
Non-directional growth response in plants to the intensity of an external/environmental stimulus
Navigation
The ability of an organism to use landmarks or natural compasses to find its way home
Orthokinesis
Change of speed of an animals movement, where the movement is faster in unfavorable conditions
Parasitism
Exploitation involving a typically smaller species(parasite) living on or in a larger species (the host) where it steals the host’s resources
Phase-shift
The change in the start time of activity or inactivity as a result of entrainment
Photoperiodism
The regulation of seasonal activities of plants by the day length, or photoperiod
Phytochrome
A type of plant pigment which has 2 forms, Pr and Pf and controls the flowering of plants
Polygyny
Where a male has multiple female mates
Predation
Exploitation involving an animal hunting and feeding on another
R strategy
The reproductive strategy where a large number of offspring are produced with a low energy input
Short-day plants
Plants which flower in the winter when the day length is less than a critical length
Taxis
A directional response involving the movement of an animal towards or away from a directional external stimulus
Territory
The defended area where an animal lives
Tropism
A growth directional response in plants to a directional external stimulus
Zeitgebers
Environmental stimuli which reset the internal biological clock
Why is it important for plants to flower at certain times?
Reproduction. Flowering needs to occur when insects are most active because the flowers are pollinated by insects to increase their chances of survival
Things that might control exogenous rhythm?
Light availability, tide length, changing in day length
What are circadian rhythms triggered by?
Light availability
What are circannual rhythms triggered by?
Changes in day length(due to changes in season)
What are circatidal rhythms triggered by?
Changes in tides(due to gravity and earth’s rotation)
Importance of tropism
Keep plants alive, plants grow towards the good stuff and away from the bad stuff
Stimuli involved in tropism and nastic responses
Light, Gravity, Chemicals, Touch, Water, Temperature
Ways of navigation
- Using landmarks
- Solar navigation
- Magnetic field line navigation
- Star navigation
Why animals migrate
- So that the population can move to a more favorable location with a more favorable climate and habitat.
- Usual home has run out of food, move to new feeding ground
