Lecture Notes: Environmental Cues, Rhythms, and Behavioral Adaptations (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to abiotic/biotic factors, biological rhythms, mimicry, navigation, photoreceptors, and plant responses.

Abiotic

Non-living environmental factors (e.g., temperature, pH, humidity).

Internal clock

An internal rhythm that controls when an organism is active.

Abscisic Acid

Plant hormone involved in germination/dormancy control.

Interspecific relationships

Relationships between different species.

Actogram

Graph of an animal's rest and activity levels under constant conditions.

Hypothalamus

Brain region regulating sleep, body temperature, appetite, and autonomic functions.

Alpha

Highest ranking member of a group.

Intraspecific relationships

Relationships among individuals of the same species.

Zeitgeber

External cue that synchronizes an internal clock (e.g., light).

K-Strategy

Reproductive strategy favoring quality offspring over quantity.

Auxin

Plant hormone controlling tropic responses by affecting cell elongation.

Kinesis

Non-directional movement response to a stimulus.

Batesian mimicry

A harmless species mimics a harmful one to deter predators.

Klinokinesis

Type of kinesis with increased turning rate in response to a stimulus.

Beta

Second highest ranking member of a group.

Landmarks

Visible landscape features used for navigation.

Biotic

Living components of the environment (predation, competition).

Long-day plant

Flowers when day length exceeds a critical threshold.

Chemical navigation

Navigation using chemical cues in the environment.

Magnetic navigation

Navigation using Earth's magnetic field.

Chemotropism

Plant directional growth in response to a chemical stimulus.

Herbivory

Feeding on plants (plant-eating).

Circa

Approximately (e.g., circadian ≈ 24 hours).

Migration

Mass movement of individuals with a return journey involved.

Circa Semilunar

Activity cycle tied to new/full moons (~15 days).

Mullerian mimicry

Two or more harmful species resemble each other for mutual benefit.

Circadian rhythm

24-hour activity cycle synchronized to daily day-night cycle.

Mutualism

Interaction where both organisms benefit.

Circalunar

Activity cycle tied to the lunar month (full moon cycle).

Nastic (Nast) Response

Plant movements that are non-directional with respect to stimulus direction.

Circannual

Yearly activity cycle (around 365 days).

Nocturnal

Active during the night.

Circatidal

Activity cycle entrained to tidal cycles (~12.5 hours).

Hierarchy

Social ranking structure within a species.

Clinostat

Device that rotates to negate gravity’s effects on growth.

Orthokinesis

Speed of movement depends on stimulus intensity.

Commensalism

One species benefits; the other is unaffected.

Pair Bond

Durable, exclusive relationship between a male and female.

Confusion effect

Prey group together to reduce predator success.

Parental care

Investment by parents to improve offspring survival.

Cooperative Breeding

Animals cooperate in breeding so all benefit (e.g., Pukekos).

Parasite

Organism living on or in a host and gaining nutrients at the host’s expense.

Courtship

Behaviors used to attract a mate.

Phase shift

Change in an organism’s free-running rhythm.

Crepuscular

Active at dawn and dusk.

Pheromone

Chemical signal released by one animal affecting others of the same species.

Critical day length

Minimum/maximum daylight hours needed for flowering; relates to Pr and Pfr.

Photonasty

Nastic plant response to changes in light intensity.

Thigmotropism

Plant directional growth in response to touch.

Photoperiod

Length of daylight hours.

Day Neutral Plants

Plants that flower regardless of photoperiod.

Phototropism

Plant directional growth toward light.

Diurnal

Active during the day.

Phytochrome

Photoreceptor with two forms (Pr and Pfr); Pfr induces flowering in long-day plants and reverts to Pr in darkness.

Endogenous Rhythm

Biological rhythm controlled internally.

Plumule

Embryonic shoot of a plant.

Endoparasite

Parasite that lives inside the host.

Predation

One organism kills and eats another.

Entrainment

External factor synchronizing an internal clock.

R-Strategy

Reproductive strategy favoring many offspring (quantity over quality).

Exogenous

Originating outside the organism.

Radicle

Embryonic root that emerges from the seed.

Exoparasite

Parasite living on the exterior of its host.

Semilunar rhythm

Activity entrained to full and new moons (≈15 days).

Exploitation

Form of competition where one group exploits resources, limiting others.

Short-day plant

Flowers when day length is shorter than a threshold.

Solar navigation

Navigation using the sun.

Free running period

Internal rhythm period in the absence of time cues.

Stellar navigation

Navigation using the stars.

Free running

Pattern of activity in absence of environmental cues under constant conditions.

Home Range

Area regularly used for foraging and living, not defended.

Geotropism

Plant directional growth in response to gravity.

Tropism

Plant directional growth toward or away from a stimulus.

Taxes

Animal directional movement in response to a stimulus.

Gravitropism

Plant growth response to gravity.

Territory

Area lived in and defended from others of the same species.

Homing

Ability to navigate back home over unfamiliar territory.

Vernalisation

Cold treatment to accelerate flowering during germination.

Aposematic Signalling

Warning signal (e.g., coloration) to deter predators.

Thigmonasty

Plant nastic response to touch.

Allelopathy

Chemical inhibition of growth or survival of other organisms by a plant.