plants and animals Flashcards
learn these terms to at least pass
innate behaviour
behaviours inherited in DNA, not learnt from others in species and not modified by experience
abiotic
non living factors (minerals, rocks, etc)
biotic
living factors (animals
learned behaviour
behaviours learnt through observations, capable of modification and behaviours can be improved from experiences
What do animals need to have to survive?
reduce competition avoid predation mating environment (shelter) nutrients (food and water)
taxis
is the movement of an organism towards or away from an external stimulus- a directional response (can be positive or negative)
Light prefix
photo-
temperature prefix
thermo-
gravity prefix
gravi- or geo-
chemicals prefix
chemo-
touch prefix
thigmo-
water prefix
hydro-
current prefix
rheo-
food prefix
tropho-
Kinesis
random movement in response to a stimulus (no negative of positive movement)
Orthokinesis
stimulus intensity affects the speed of movement (faster in unfavourable conditions, slower in favourable)
klinokinesis
stimulus intensity affects the rate of turning (higher rate in unfavourable, less in favourable.
homing
the ability of an animal to return over unfamiliar territory to its home (nest, roosting site)
navigation
an innate behaviour animals use to find their way home over unfamiliar terrain
landmarks
animals recognize familiar terrain and objects to find their way (coast lines, islands, mountain ranges)
solar navigation (sun compass)
the use of the sun as a tool to navigate journeys. animals must compensate for the movement of the sun (and the change of angles) by using a biological clock to help change their orientation
stellar navigation (star compass)
animals use star constellations and celestial poles to navigate during the night. stars move so animals must use a biological clock to help with orientation.
magnetic fields (magnetic compass)
animals use the earth’s magnetic field lines to navigate
chemical navigation
use smells or scent trails to find their way
sonar navigation
emitting sound waves which bounce back from an object. the speed of the “bounce back” allows the animal to position itself in relation to the object.
migration
the mass movement from one geographic location to another. usually on a seasonal basis and to a predetermined location
how animals prepare for migration
- putting on fat layers (energy supplies)
- moulting of feathers and replacing new ones
advantages to migration
- migrate to more favourable climate
-migrate to more abundant food source
-constant food source
-can have more offspring
-greater genetic mixing
animals move between favourable locations and avoid harsh conditions, enables higher survival rate of young
disadvantages to migration
- travel large distances
- massive expenditure of energy
- conditions on route may be harsh
- increased predation on route
external migration cues
- photoperiod (long days in summer/short days in winter)
- shifting seasons (temperature changes, precipitation levels)
- food/ water availability (lack of food/water)
Internal migration cues
- circadian rhythms (internal calendar in animal nervous system)
- fat reserves
- sexual maturity (hormones may trigger innate desire to migrate)
daily rhythms
linked to day- night cycle
nocturnal
animals active at night
diurnal
animals active during the day
crepuscular
active during dusk and dawn
circannual rhythms
rhythms associated with the effects of the earth orbiting the sun, which causes seasonal changes and changes to photoperiods
circatidal rhythms
rhythms caused by the gravitational pull of the moon (twice a day)
circasemilunar rhythms
associated with the moon orbiting the earth, happens twice a month (new moon and full moon)
endogenous rhythms
internally driven and use an internal clock independent of changes in external environment (note: setting of clock is adjusted by environmental changes)
exogenous rhythms
externally driven, caused by environment factors
zeitgeber
using various environmental cues to set an organisms biological clock
free-running
when a rhythm continues in constant environmental conditions (remains unaffected by external cues
actogram
a type of graph or chart commonly used in circadian research to plot activity (present or absent) against time
photoperiodism
the regulation of seasonal activity by day length
tropism
long term, slow growth of plant towards/away from stimuli (positive and negative)
nastic responses
rapid, reversible movements in plants that involve changes in cell turgor pressure. direction of nastic response is independent to the direction of the stimulus. rate of nastic response is proportional to intensity of stimulus
abscisic acid (ABA)
hormone that promotes seed dormancy and inhibits growth in plants
gibberellin (GA)
hormone that breaks dormancy and initiate germination
ethylene
stimulates ripening of fruit and initiates the falling of fruits and leaves
cytokinins
hormone that stimulates cell division and growth
auxins (IAA)
hormone that promotes cell elongation and differntiation. found in areas of growth in plants (tips and roots)
vernalisation
promotion of flowering by chilling
commensualism
a relationship between two species in which one species benefits and the other is not unaffected
interspecific relationships
a relationship between members of different species
mutualism
a relationship between two species where both benefit , to the extent that reproductive fitness is increased
exploitation
a relationship between members of two species in which one benefits and the other is harmed (includes: herbivory, parasitism and predation)
herbivory
an animal that eats parts of, or the whole plant. The herbivore benefits and the plant is harmed
parasitism
a parasite lives on and feeds off another living organism (brood parasites, ectoparasites, endoparasites, parasitism in plants)
predation
a carnivore which hunts, kills and eats another animal
prey defences
- living in groups
- greater vigilance (early warning for quick escape)
- dilution effect
- confusion effect
- concealment of young by adults
- mimicry
stratification
formation of layers
zonation
division of a community into distinct zone based gradients eg altitude
intraspecific
relationships among organisms of the same species (same niche= competing for same resources)
territory
an area of space occupied by an animal and defended against others
home range
an area that an animal ranges over but does not defend, sometime uses resources in this space that territory doesn’t have
K-strategist
reproductive effort devoted raising a few, cared for offspring
R-strategist
reproductive effort devoted to producing large numbers of (un-cared for) offspring
courtship
a succession of signals that are exchanged between male and female, and which accumulates in mating (visual, touch, chemical, vocal)
monogomy
enduring relationship that lasts longer than mating
polygyny
males mating with more than one female in one season, male is not involved with off-spring
polygynandry (co-operative breeding)
offspring are raised by several adults (who havent bred together)
