Plants and Animals - Definitions

Question 1

Define Auxin

Answer 1

A plant hormone which elongates cells in the shoots of plants but causes cells to not elongate in the roots.

Question 2

Define Batesian Mimicry

Answer 2

A form of mimicry where a harmless species resembles a dangerous of unpalatable one.

Question 3

Define Circadian Rhythms

Answer 3

A biological rhythm linked to the day-night cycle with a length of approximately 24 hours.

Question 4

Define Circalunar Rhythms

Answer 4

A biological rhythm with a length of approx 29.5 days.

Question 5

Define Circatidal Rhythms

Answer 5

A biological rhythm linked to changes in tide - high tide and low tide - with a length of approx 12 days.

Question 6

Define Commensalism

Answer 6

An interspecific relationship where one species benefits with the other is unaffected.

Question 7

Define Competitive Exclusion Principle

Answer 7

(also called Gause’s Law).. The law that states that no two species can co-exist with the exact same ecological niche.

Question 8

Define courtship

Answer 8

The different things animals do to attract a mate.

Question 9

Define Day-Neutral Plants

Answer 9

Plants which flower all year round and are not affected by the day length.

Question 10

Define Ecological Niche

Answer 10

The physical and biological conditions or factors a population faces in its habitat.

Question 11

Define Endogenous Rhythms

Answer 11

Biological rhythms which are driven by an internal biological clock.

Question 12

Define Entrainment

Answer 12

The act of resetting the internal biological clock to match the environment.

Question 13

Define Exogenous Rhythms

Answer 13

Biological rhythms which are driven by external, environmental factors.

Question 14

Define Exploitation

Answer 14

An interspecific relationship where one species benefits while the other is harmed.

Question 15

Define Free-Running Period

Answer 15

The period of time where an animal’s biological rhythm is running under constant environmental conditions.

Question 16

Define Herbivory

Answer 16

Exploitation involving an animal feeding on a plant.

Question 17

Define Hierarchies

Answer 17

The ranking system that exists in populations, with the strongest members at the top and the weakest members at the bottom.

Question 18

Define Home Range

Answer 18

The extended area outside the territory where animals forage for food.

Question 19

Define Homing

Answer 19

The ability of an organisms to find its way home over unfamiliar areas.

Question 20

Define Interspecific Relationships

Answer 20

The interactions between two individuals from different species.

Question 21

Define Intraspecific Relationships

Answer 21

The interactions between two individuals who belong to the same species.

Question 22

Define K-strategy

Answer 22

The reproductive strategy where a small number of offspring are produced with a high energy input.

Question 23

Define Kinesis

Answer 23

A non-directional response where the rate of movement or activity of the animal is influenced by the external, or environmental, stimulus.

Question 24

Define Klinokinesis

Answer 24

The change in rate of turning of an organism, where the rate is faster in unfavourable conditions.

Question 25

Define Lek

Answer 25

The area where animals come together and perform mating displays to attract mates for breeding.

Question 26

Define Long-Day Plants

Answer 26

Plants which flower in the summer when the day length exceeds a critical length.

Question 27

Define Migration

Answer 27

The regular movement of whole populations to a specific location.

Question 28

Define Mimicry

Answer 28

Where one species resembles another in some way.

Question 29

Define Monogamy

Answer 29

Having one mate for a breeding season.

Question 30

Define Mullerian Mimicry

Answer 30

A form of mimicry where two unpalatable species resemble one another.

Question 31

Define Mutualism

Answer 31

An interspecific relationship where both species benefit.

Question 32

Define Nastic Response

Answer 32

A non-directional growth response in plants to the intensity of an external, or environmental, stimulus.

Question 33

Define Navigation

Answer 33

The ability of an organism to use landmarks or natural compasses to find its way home.

Question 34

Define Orthokinesis

Answer 34

The change in speed of an animal’s movement, where the movement is faster in unfavourable conditions.

Question 35

Define Parasitism

Answer 35

Exploitations involving a typically smaller species (the parasite) living on or in a larger species (the host) where it steals the host’s resources.

Question 36

Define Phase-shift

Answer 36

The change in the start time of activity or inactivity as a result of entrainment.

Question 37

Define Photoperiodism

Answer 37

The regulation of seasonal activities of plants by the day length , or photoperiod.

Question 38

Define Phytochrome

Answer 38

A type of plant pigment which has two forms - Pr and Pfr - and controls the flowering of plants.

Question 39

Define Polygyny

Answer 39

Where a male has multiple female mates.

Question 40

Define Predation

Answer 40

Exploitation involving an animal hunting and feeding on another.

Question 41

Define R-strategy

Answer 41

The reproductive strategy where a large number of offspring are produced with a low energy input.

Question 42

Define Short-day Plants

Answer 42

Plants which flower in the winter when the day length is less than a critical length.

Question 43

Define Taxis

Answer 43

A directional response involving the movement of an animal towards or away from a directional external (or environmental) stimulus.

Question 44

Define Territory

Answer 44

The defended area where an animal lives.

Question 45

Define Tropism

Answer 45

A growth directional response in plants to a directional external (or environmental) stimulus.

Question 46

Define Zeitgebers

Answer 46

Environmental stimuli which rest the internal biological clock.