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Timaru Girls’ High School Level 3 Biology External 5 Credits Keywords for AS91603 – Demonstrate understanding of the responses of plants and animals to their environment. Abscisic acid A naturally occurring plant growth substance that promotes leaf ageing, leaf fall and apical dominance and induces dormancy in seeds and buds. Aggressive behaviour Behaviour aimed at intimidating or injuring another animal of the same or a competing species. Agonistic behaviour Any form of behaviour associated with aggression, including threat, attack, appeasement or flight. Altitudinal zonation change in species composition with altitude Altruism Behaviour in an animal that decreases its chances of survival or reproduction while increasing those of another member of the same species. Eg. Mother defending her young. Annual A plant that completes its life cycle in one year. Antibiosis The interaction that occurs between two animal or plant species in which one species is harmed while the other is not significantly affected. Eg. Large animals stepping on and squashing small insects or trampling vegetation. Appeasement Behaviour that inhibits aggression from another animal of the same species, frequently taking the form of a special posture or display emphasising the weakness of the performer. Eg. Dog cowering. Auxins Any of a group of plant growth hormones that promote growth by cell enlargement, the maintenance of apical dominance and the initiation of root formation in cuttings. Biennial A plant that requires two growing seasons to complete its life cycle. Biological clock The mechanism that produces regular periodic changes in behaviour or physiology. Biological rhythm A roughly periodic change in the behaviour or physiology of an organism that is generated and maintained by a biological clock. Canopy layer top layer of foliage covering other layers Caste system A division of labour found in social insects, such as ants, bees, wasps and the termites, in which the individuals are structurally and physiologically specialised to perform a particular function. Eg. in honeybees there are queens (fertile females), workers (sterile females) and drones (males). Chemotaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to chemicals in the environment - eg. Female mosquitos follow a carbon dioxide gradient towards their prey. Circa lunar rhythm 29½ day periodicity in the behaviour or physiology of animals or plants which approximates the cycle of a lunar month. Circa tidal rhythm 12½ hour periodicity in the behaviour or physiology of animals or plants which approximates the cycle the tides. Circadian rhythm 24 hour periodicity in the behaviour or physiology of animals or plants which approximates the cycle of a solar day. Circannual rhythm 365¼ day periodicity in the behaviour or physiology of animals or plants which approximates the cycle of a solar year. Climax community a mature community that is self-maintaining Coexistence species living together over the long term Commensal species living with another without harming it Commensalism An interaction between two animal or plant species that habitually live together in which one species benefits from the association while the other is not significantly affected. Eg. E. coli in the human gut. Community all plants and animals living in a defined area Community structure arrangement of species within a community Competition The interaction between two or more organisms, populations, or species that share some environmental resource when this is in short supply. Complex hierarchy A kind of hierarchy where groups of individuals hold the top rank. Eg. In wolf packs, relatives of the alpha male and female hold a higher rank than other wolves which may actually be stronger than them, but are restrained by the alpha male and female. Cooperative breeding A breeding system in which members of an extended family (usually older offspring from the same parents) all help in the rearing of offspring. Eg. Pukekos nest in communal groups where other pukekos help parents raise the young. Cooperative defence Where members of a group combine their strengths to defend against predators. Eg. Siberian musk ox, form a protective circle around their young when threatened by predators. Courtship behaviour Behaviour in animals that plays a part in the initial attraction of a mate or as a prelude to mating. Crepuscular animals Animals that are most active at dawn and dusk. Cytokinin One of a group of plant growth hormones that promote cell division but, unlike auxins, promote lateral growth. Day neutral plants A plant in which flowering can occur irrespective of the day length. Diapause A period of suspended development or growth occurring in some insects during which metabolism is greatly decreased. Display Stereotyped movement or posture that serves to influence the behaviour of another animal. Eg. Peacock tail display to attract hens. Dominance Behaviour shown by an individual that is higher in a hierarchy than the individual it is relating with. Dominant species the species that affects other species the most Dormancy An inactive period of life of an animal or plant during which growth slows or completely ceases. Endogenous Describing a substance, stimulus, organ etc. that originates from within an organism. Entrainment The resetting of the biological clock on a regular basis, forcing it to take up the period of the environmental cycle. Environmental cues A change in the external environment that triggers a change in behaviour or physiology. Environmental gradient a gradually changing environmental factor Ethylene A colourless hydrocarbon gas, C2H4, that occurs naturally in many plants and acts as a growth substance. It is often used to ripen fruit commercially. Exploitation An interaction between species in which one benefits by using the other as a source of food or shelter. Food chain path of food from one species to another Food web linked food chains within a community Free running period The period of a biological rhythm in the absence of external environmental cues. Geotaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to gravity - eg. Shellfish such as toheroa that burrow downwards into the sand exhibit positive geotaxis. Geotropism The directional growth of plant organs in response to gravity. Gibberellin Any of a group of plant growth substances chemically related to gibberellic acid, which promote shoot elongation in certain plants, often overcoming genetic dwarfism. Hibernation A sleep-like state in which some animals pass the winter months as a way of surviving food scarcity and cold weather. Homing The ability of an organism to find its way back to a specific area - eg. Salmon returning to the river in which they were born for spawning. Host species a species which provides food or shelter Hydrotaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to water in the environment. Hydrotropism The directional growth of plant organs in response to water in the environment. Indoleacetic acid A naturally occurring auxin, synthesised in the shoot tips and responsible for cell elongation in the plant stem. Interspecific interactions between different species Intraspecific interactions between members of the same species Kinesis The directional movement of a cell or organism in response to a stimulus in which rate of movement depends on the intensity (rather than the direction) of the stimulus - eg. A slater moves slowly in a damp atmosphere and quickly in a dry one. Life-history strategy number of young produced and care provided Long day plants A plant in which flowering can be induced or enhanced by long days (short nights), usually with more than 12 hours of daylight. Lunar month 29½-day astronomical cycle based on the time it takes for the moon to complete one orbit around the Earth. Migration The seasonal movement of complete populations of animals to a more favourable environment. It is usually a response to lower temperatures resulting in a reduced food supply and is often triggered by a change in day length. Mutualism two species benefit from the relationship Nastic movements Movements of plant organs in response to external stimuli that are independent of the direction of the stimuli - eg. Opening of tulip and crocus flowers in response to increasing temperatures. Negative tropism A plant growth response away from a stimulus. Niche exclusion one species forces another out of a habitat Nocturnal animal Animals that are active at night. Parasitism one species lives on another to obtain food Perennial A plant that lives for a number of years. Photoperiodism The response of an organism to changes in day length (photoperiod). Phototaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to light - eg. Certain algae can detect light using a sensitive eyespot and move to regions of higher light to enhance photosynthesis. Phototropism The directional growth of plant organs in response to light. Shoots usually grow towards light. Positive tropism A plant growth response towards a stimulus. Predation hunting another animal species for food Saprophytism when bacteria and fungi feed on dead matter Scavenger species that feed on predators' left over food Senescence The change that occurs in an organism (or organ) between maturity and death - ie. ageing. Short day plants A plant in which flowering can be induced or enhanced by short days (long nights), usually with less than 12 hours of daylight. Social behaviour working together to ensure mutual survival Social hierarchy order of importance in a population Solar year 365¼-day astronomical cycle based on the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun. Species composition the species that make up a community Stable community a community that changes little over time Strata layers within a forest community Stratification changes in community structure with height Succession changing community composition over time Taxes Directional movements of animals in response to external stimuli. Territory area which organisms utilise and defend Thermotaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to heat - eg. Female mosquitos can sense infra-red light and use it to find their prey. Thigmotaxis The directional movement of an animal in response to touch - eg. When snails are touched, they withdraw into their shell. Thigmotropism The growth of an aerial plant organ in response to localised physical contact - eg. Bean tendrils twining around a support. Transect line line across a community used for sampling Tropisms Directional plant growth responses in response to external stimuli. Unstable community a community that changes rapidly Zeitgeber The environmental agent that resets the biological clock. Zonation changing community structure across landscape