Behavioral Adaptation - Taxis
Noah Thomas
Taxis
Taxis is when an organism moves toward or away from a stimulus, that stimulus can either harm or help an organism. A stimulus could be something like sunlight for photosynthesis. Taxis helps organisms find stimuluses for basic functions and needs. The easiest example of this is microorganisms moving towards light to carry out photosynthesis to make food. This is key for their survival. It also helps them avoid bad stimuluses that could potentially kill them.
Moths Attracted to Light
Moths showing a positive phototaxis.
Organisms Attracted to Light
Another example of different species that get attracted to light.
Sunflower
Sunflower opening for sunlight.
Hibernation
Hibernation
Hibernation is where an animal or organism goes into an extended period of sleep. In this sleep their body temperature drops, heart rate is slowed, and most importantly their metabolism slows down. Many animals do this, but one of the most common is a bear. Survival for some is key to hibernation. It allows them to sleep through the cold and long winters, where food would otherwise be in a very short supply.
Black Bear Hibernating
Most bears, including black bears, hibernate.
Squirle Hibernating
Some species of squirrel hibernate as well.
Female Polar Bear Hibernating
Female Polar Bears hibernate in dens to give birth to their children.