full definitions

NCEA level 3 plants and animal responses main definition (this has been checked by my teacher so it should all be correct!)

abscission

leaf or fruit fall because of death of cells in the abscission layer in the stalk

aggression

threatening behaviour usually associated with competition (can involve predation)

agonistic behaviour

conflicts within species (excludes predation)

allelopathy

chemical inhibition of one plant species by another plant species to prevent it from taking its resources

batesian mimicry

a palatable animal that looks like a unpalatable animal to avoid being eaten

biological clock

internal timing systems that continue without external cues and control the timing of activities of plants and animals

circadian

a rhythm of about 24 hours

circatidal

a rhythm of about 12.5 hours

circalunar

a rhythm of about 29.5 days

circannual

a rhythm of about 365.25 days

commensalism

an interspecific relationship where one organism benefits, but the other is unaffected

crepuscular

when an animal is active around sunrise and sunset

diurnal

active during the day

dormancy

when seeds will not germinate unless certain conditions (such as cutting of the coat or a long period of cold) happen.

endogenous (rhythm)

an internal rhythm that occurs when there are no external cues. it is caused by a biological clock.

Gause’s principal

of two species have the same niche they cannot remain for long in the same habitat. One will outcompete the other, and the other will go extinct

habitat

the place or environment in which specific organisms live

hierarchy

when animals are ranked according to their relationship to an alpha male. the position is earned through aggressive behaviour

linear hierarchy

where every animal is above or below another; there are no equals

home range

an area that an animal has access for resources but is not defended

interspecific

relationship between organisms of different species

kinesis

a whole-body response of animals where the response is independent of the stimulus direction, but depends on the intensity of the stimulus

limiting factor

any variable factor of the environment that limits the activity of an organism or population

phase shift

the amount of time that the start of activity has moved backwards or forwards

phytochrome

a plant pigment that controls the photoperiodic response

predation

an interspecific relationship where one individual benefits and the other is harmed and killed. One animal hunts another animal.

short-day plant

a plant that flowers when they are exposed to longer periods of darkness than the critical day length

stimulus

anything that causes an organism to react

sun compass

navigation cue used by migrating bird or insect to fly from the sun. This is done by continuously adjusting its angle to the sun while flying

taxis

movement of an animal or part of its body towards (positive) or away (negative) from a directional stimulus

territory

an area used by an animal for feeding or breeding and that is defended by the animal

tropism

a plant growth behaviour in response to a directional stimulus involving a hormone like auxin

vernalisation

behaviour of plants in response to period of cold to break the seeds’ dormancy

kinesis

a whole-body response of animals where the response is independent of stimulus direction, but depends on the intensity of the stimulus.

mullerian mimicry

where several species have similar phenotypes to avoid being harmed

mutualism

an interspecific relationship where both species benefit

nastic response

a plant response that is independent of the direction of the stimulus but responds to intensity of stimulus. The response is not a growth response, but usually reversible and involves osmosis.

nocturnal

active at night

parasitism

an interspecific relationship where one individual is benefited and the other harmed. The host is always harmed, but not usually killed.

period

the length of the rhythm, how long it takes to repeat

tropotaxis

requires simultaneous comparison between impulse frequency from receptors on two sides of the body

klinotaxis

does not require two distinct areas of receptors. It compares the strength of stimulus over time rather than space.

orthokinesis

a response to intensity of stimulus determining the speed of movement

klinokinesis

stimulus intensity determines turning

migration

regular repeated long distance mass movement from one population to another. Purpose: breeding site or feeding site- to avoid lack of resources (2 way route)

cytokinins

produced in the roots. It regulates cell division and promotes lateral growth

gibberellins

stimulates cell elongation in stems and the rate of cell division in flowers, fruit and seeds

abscisic acid

is considered the “stress” hormone. It reduces water loss during times of plant stress

ethylene (ethane)

a gas produced which causes fruit ripening, seed germination and leaf loss

innate behaviour

behaviour not modified by experience. Is flexible and stereotyped, genetically determined.

adaptation

a feature of an organism that aids the survival and reproduction of individuals of that species in its enviroment

species

group of organisms that are genetically related so can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

population

group of individuals of the same species living in a particular location and interacting with each other

community

all the populations of different species living together in a given area interacting with each other

ecosystem

interactions of all communities with their living and non-living environments

niche

the role that an organism has in its ecosystem

free running period

rhythm continues in constant environmental conditions as it is unaffected by external cues

zeitgeber

rhythmic environmental cue that entrains/resets the biological clock

zonation

is a distinct horizontal pattern seen in the species distribution across a community

long day plant

a plant that flowers/gives fruit when the photoperiod is greater than the critical day length

short day plant

a plant that flowers/gives fruit when the photoperiod is less than the critical day length

auxin

a group of plant hormones that promote cell elongation and are inactivated by light

meristem

growth tissue of plants

exploitation

species interactions that benefit only one party

symbiosis

involves a close association between species

ectoparasites

parasites that live externally on a host

endoparasites

parasites that live within the hosts body