Kinesis (biology)

Woodlice are decreasingly active as humidity increases.

Kinesis, like a taxis, is a movement or activity of a cell or an organism in response to a stimulus. However, unlike taxis, the response to the stimulus provided (such as gas exposure, light intensity or ambient temperature) is non-directional.

The two main types of kineses include:

Orthokinesis: in which the speed of movement of the individual is dependent upon the intensity of the stimulus. Take, for example, the locomotion of a woodlouse in relation to temperature. With increased humidity there is an increase in the percentage time that the woodlouse will remain stationary.

Klinokinesis: in which the frequency or rate of turning is proportional to stimulus intensity.

Both orthokinesis and klinokineses result in aggregations. However, the stimulus does not act to attract or repel individuals.

The same prefixes used with "taxis" can be applied to kineses; see also -kinesis.

Kinesis is an animals non-directional response to a stimulus, for example humidity. The animal does not move toward or away the stimulus but moves at either a slow or fast rate depending on its "comfort zone." In this case a fast movement(non random) means that the animal is searching for its comfort zone but a slow movement indicates that it has found it.

External links

• Host-plant finding by insects: orientation, sensory input and search patterns

See also

• Brownian motion
• Nastic movements

References

• Kendeigh, S. Charles. 1961. Animal Ecology. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 468 p.