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NCEA Level 3 Biology Plant Animal Responses AS 91603

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Term
Definition
abiotic factors   The non-living (physical or climatic) aspects of an environment.  
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abscissic acid   A plant hormone with a range of effects e.g. promotes leaf and fruit abscission in some species.  
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abscission   Leaf or fruit fall.  
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actogram   An activity / time graph for an organism.  
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adaptation   A feature of an organism which helps it to live successfully in its environment.  
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adaptive advantage   The way in which the response helps to ensure the survival of the individual and therefore the population or species as a whole.  
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aggression   Attempts by an animal to harm or kill another animal of the same species with which it is competing (not predation).  
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agonistic behaviour   Ritualised behaviour between two members of the same species which are in conflict. Includes threat displays and submissive/dominance behaviours. Reduces actual physical fighting.  
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allelopathy   An interspecific relationship in which a plant species produces a chemical which is toxic to other species.  
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altruism   Behaviour in which an individual puts itself at risk for the benefit of the group e.g. warning of predators.  
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amensalism   An interspecific relationship in which one species is harmed and the other species is unaffected (or benefits) e.g. antibiosis and allelopathy.  
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antibiosis   An interspecific relationship in which one species releases a substance which inhibits the growth or kills another species (e.g. some fungi inhibit the growth of bacteria).  
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apical dominance   Growth pattern where there is one main trunk/stem and much smaller side branches, due to suppression of lateral (side) buds by a high concentration of auxin near the top of the plant.  
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auxin   A plant hormone. Involved in tropic responses because it affects cell elongation, also has various other roles and effects in plants.  
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Batesian mimicry   When a palatable animal mimics (looks like) an unpalatable one, providing protection from predators.  
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behaviour   The response of an organism to a stimulus. Can be innate or learned.  
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biological clock   An internal timing system in organisms.  
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biotic factors   Environmental factors which are the result of living things.  
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camouflage   Concealment method in which an animal is coloured to match its environment.  
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chemo-   Prefix for chemicals.  
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chemotaxis   The movement of an animal towards or away from a chemical stimulus.  
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chemotropims   Plant growth response towards or away from a chemical stimulus.  
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circa-   Means ‘about / approximately’. ONLY used to describe rhythms occurring in constant environmental (free-running) conditions.  
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circaannual   A rhythm of about one year occurring in constant environmental (free-running) conditions.  
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circadian   A rhythm of about 24 hours occurring in constant environmental (free-running) conditions.  
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circalunar   A rhythm of about one month occurring in constant environmental (free-running) conditions.  
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circatidal   A rhythm of about 12.5 hours occurring in constant environmental (free-running) conditions.  
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co-evolution   When two species with a strong ecological relationship influence each other’s evolution (the relationship acts as a strong selection pressure).  
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commensalism   An interspecific relationship where one organism benefits, but the other is unaffected.  
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competition   Occurs when organisms living in the same location require the same resource, for which demand exceeds supply. Can be interspecific or intraspecific.  
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cooperative breeding   Cooperation between individuals for successful reproduction, which may include courtship, mating and parental care of offspring.  
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cooperative interactions   When members of a species co-ordinate activities (e.g. food gathering, surveillance of predators) for their mutual benefit.  
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courtship   A series of signals exchanged between male and female and ending in mating.  
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crepuscular   Most active at dawn and dusk.  
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critical day length   The photoperiod above which long-day plants flower, and below which short day plants will flower. NB: remember: later research discovered it’s actually the length of DARKNESS which is critical to the plant.  
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cytokinin   A plant hormone. Various effects, including promoting cell division (and therefore growth).  
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daily rhythm   Activity occurring every 24 hours (NB: zeitgeber(s) present!).  
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day-neutral plant   A plant that flowers independently of the day length.  
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diapause   A period of arrested development (especially in insects in cold climates).  
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diurnal   Most active during the day.  
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dormancy   A state of temporarily reduced metabolism.  
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ectoparasite   A parasite which lives or feeds on the outside of its host.  
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ecological niche   The role of the organism in its ecosystem. Includes its feeding role, activity pattern, habitat and adaptations. Each species has a unique niche.  
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effector   Part of an organism where the response to the stimulus is carried out.  
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endogenous rhythm   Controlled by an internal timing mechanism (biological clock). It continues in the absence of environmental cues.  
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endoparasite   A parasite which lives on the inside of its host.  
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entrainment   Process by which the internal clock is reset so that it is synchronised with an environmental rhythm.  
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ethene / ethylene gas   A plant hormone which is produced and accumulates in aging fruit, promoting their ripening.  
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exogenous rhythm   Controlled by an external cue or stimulus.  
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exploitation   Interspecific relationship in which one species benefits while the other is harmed. Includes parasitism, herbivory and predation.  
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fitness   This means evolutionary fitness and is a measure of an organism’s reproductive success. ‘Fitter’ organisms are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass on their favourable alleles.  
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free running period   The length of an organism's activity period in the absence of external cues (zeitgebers).  
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free-running   Occurring in the absence of environmental cues.  
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Gause’s competitive exclusion principle   If two species have the same niche they cannot remain for long in the same habitat. One will be out-competed and eliminated (or at least reduced to a very small population.)  
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germination   The process by which a plant grows from a seed.  
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gibberellin   A plant hormone which promotes elongation of shoots.  
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gravi- (or geo-)   Prefix for gravity.  
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gravitropism   A plant growth response towards or away from the stimulus of gravity.  
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habitat   The specific environment in which an organism lives.  
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herbivory   A type of exploitation in which an animal eats plants (or their parts), benefiting the herbivore and (potentially) harming the plant.  
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hibernation   A period of suspended activity / very low metabolic activity during winter, generally to survive a lack of food.  
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hierarchy   When animals have a specific rank in the group. A linear hierarchy (or pecking order) has individuals ranked from highest (alpha individual) to lowest (omega individual).  
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homing   The ability of an animal to return to its home site over unfamiliar territory. It occurs on a regular (e.g. daily) basis.  
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hormone   Chemical messengers which control development and growth. Produced in one part of an organism and transported to another part where it takes effect.  
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hydro-   Prefix for water.  
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hydrotropism   A plant growth response towards or away from the stimulus of water.  
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innate behaviour   A fixed response to a stimulus, controlled by genes.  
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interspecific   Between two different species.  
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intraspecific   Within one species.  
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jet-lag   Condition caused when the endogenous circadian rhythm does not match external cues. Usually caused by travelling across time zones.  
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kin selection   When an individual puts them self at risk to assist the survival of another individual to which they are related. This helps to ensure their alleles are passed on.  
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kinesis   Non-directional movement response in animals in which the rate of activity is determined by the intensity of the stimulus.  
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klinokinesis   Non-directional movement response in animals in which the rate of turning is determined by the intensity of the stimulus... faster in unfavourable conditions and slower in favourable conditions.  
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learned behaviour   Behaviour which is modified by experience.  
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limiting factor   Any variable factor of the environment that limits the activity of an organism or population.  
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long-day plant   A plant that flowers when the day length exceeds the critical day length (i.e. requires a short night).  
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magnetic compass   Ability of animals to use Earth’s magnetic field lines for orientation and navigation.  
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meristem   Area at tips of shoots and roots where cells are dividing rapidly.  
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migration   The mass movement, typically annually, of animals over a long distance between two habitats. One habitat is normally a breeding or feeding area.  
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mimicry   The similarity in appearance of one species of animal to another unrelated species that provides a benefit (e.g. protection from predators).  
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monogamy   Each male mates with only one female (and vice versa).  
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mortality   The number or proportion of deaths in a population over time.  
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Mullerian mimicry   Where several unpalatable (inedible) species resemble each other, providing protection from predators.  
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mutualism   An interspecific relationship where both species benefit.  
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navigation   Determining the position relative to other locations.  
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nastic responses   A plant turgor response that is independent of the direction of the stimulus. Not a growth response. Rapid and reversible e.g. sensitive plant (Mimosa).  
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niche differentiation   The process by which differences evolve in the niches of competing species, e.g.in resource use in time, space. This specialisation reduces interspecific competition.  
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nocturnal   Most active at night.  
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orientation   The ability of organisms to determine their location in relation to environmental stimuli.  
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orthokinesis   Non-directional movement response in animals in which the speed of movement is determined by the intensity of the stimulus... faster in unfavourable conditions and slower in favourable conditions.  
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pair bond   A long-lasting relationship between a particular male and female.  
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parasitism   A form of exploitation in which one species (the parasite) feeds off another living species (the host).  
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parasitoid   An organism which is parasitic at only one stage of its life cycle.  
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parental care   Investment of resources by parents in the survival of offspring.  
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period   The length of the activity cycle (how long it takes to repeat) of an organism.  
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personal distance   The close-up distance around an animal that is never invaded except for mating or fighting.  
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phase shift   A change in the starting time of a rhythm (but not its period).  
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pheromone   Chemical used as a signal to other members of the same species.  
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photo-   Prefix for light.  
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photoperiod   The day length; this is the most reliable indicator of time of the year.  
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photoperiodism   The control of seasonal activity by day length.  
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phototaxis   Movement of an organisms towards or away from a light stimulus.  
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phototropism   Plant growth response toward or away from a light stimulus.  
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phytochrome   A plant pigment that controls the photoperiodic response (measures the length of darkness / light).  
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plumule   The first shoot of a young plant.  
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polygamy   A social system in which individuals mate with more than one member of the opposite sex during a breeding season.  
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predation   A form of exploitation in which one species (the predator) kills and eats another species (the prey).  
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r/K strategies   r-strategist: large number of offspring but little parental care; K-strategist: small number of offspring, but large investment in parental care of each.  
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receptors   Part of an organism which is able to detect a change in the environment (stimulus).  
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short-day plant   A plant that flowers when the day length is less than the critical day length (i.e. requires a long night).  
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solar navigation   Using the position of the sun to navigate. NB: requires an internal clock to compensate for changing position of sun in sky.  
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star compass   Ability of an animal to orientate and navigate using the pattern of stars.  
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stellar navigation   Using the stars to navigate.  
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stimulus   A change in the environment which causes a response in an organism.  
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stratification   Two different biological meanings: where seeds are treated to simulate winter conditions so that germination may occur, OR a vertical pattern in the distribution of species - e.g. the layers of plants in a forest.  
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submissive behaviour   When an individual indicates, by an act or posture, that it will not challenge a dominant individual in a social group. This behaviour is important in maintaining a dominance hierarchy.  
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subordinate   Lower in rank e.g. in a linear hierarchy  
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succession   A pattern in the distribution of species over time (e.g. in plants from bare rock to forest).  
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sun compass   Ability of an animal to orientate and navigate using the sun’s position. NB: requires an internal clock to compensate for changing position of sun in sky.  
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taxis   The movement of an organism towards or away from a directional stimulus.  
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territoriality   When individuals or groups of a species have territories which they defend.  
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territory   An area used by an animal for feeding or breeding, that the animal will defend against individuals of its own species. Territories do not overlap.  
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thigmo-   Prefix for touch (physical contact).  
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thigmonasty   A plant turgor response to the stimulus of touch (e.g. leaves close).  
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thigmotropism   A plant growth response towards or away from the stimulus of touch (contact).  
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tropism   A plant growth response to towards or away from a directional stimulus.  
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vernalisation   Promotion of flowering by chilling (e.g. some bulbs such as tulips require this).  
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zeitgeber   The external environmental cue used to ‘set’ the biological clock. In most species, this is the change from light to dark (or dark to light).  
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zonation   A horizontal pattern in the distribution of species e.g. zones of plants of different types up a mountain or bands of particular species on the rocky shore.  
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suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN)   A tiny region within the hypothalamus of the brain, connected by nerves to the eyes. Responsible for controlling the circadian rhythm in animals.  
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