Materials

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Prerequisites

Students should be comfortable tracking and organizing data, testing and reasoning about hypotheses, and understanding the terms “stimulus” and “response.”

Investigating/Essential Questions

• How can I use simulated biological data to test hypotheses?
• What sensory stimuli may be used to identify and guide animal movement to/from its source?

Educational Standards

The educational standards applicable to this lesson plan are listed on the following page:

Educational Standards

Learning Objectives

1. Describe and illustrate the animal orientation mechanisms of kinesis and taxis and their differences.
2. Provide examples of the locomotory behaviors different organisms use to move in their environment.
3. Test hypotheses in animal orientation.
4. Explain the advantages/disadvantages of single vs multi-sensor models as well as the importance of sensor spatial separation.
5. Provide examples of biological principles embodied in robots.
6. Provide examples of how robots are used to test hypotheses about animal behavior.

Introduction and Motivation

Kinesis and taxis are two types of behavioral responses exhibited by organisms in reaction to external stimuli, each with distinct characteristics. Kinesis refers to a non-directional, random movement or activity in response to the intensity of a stimulus. This means that the speed or rate of movement changes based on the stimulus level without any specific directionality. For example, woodlice (also known as pill bugs) demonstrate kinesis by exhibiting more rapid and erratic movements in dry environments. In this scenario, the woodlice are responding to the dryness of their surroundings by increasing their movement speed, but the movement itself is not targeted towards or away from a specific point.