E1 Stimulus and response

Monday, 3 September 2012 12:59 PM

E.1.1 Define the terms stimulus, response and reflex in the context of animal behaviour.

A stimulus is a change in the environment (internal or external) that is detected by a receptor and elicits a response.
A reflex is a rapid, unconscious response. A response is s reaction to a stimulus. E.1.2 Explain the role of receptors, sensory neurons, relay neurons, motor neurons, synapses and effectors in the response of animals to stimuli.

Receptors Sensory neurons

Detect a stimulus Can be sensory cells or nerve endings of sensory neurons Receive information from receptors Transmit nervous impulses to CNS Receptor cell detects stimulus and converts it to a nerve impulse Impulse travels along sensory neuron to (dorsal root of) spinal cord

Relay neurons Transmit information from sensory neurons to motor neurons

Motor neurons Send impulse to effector Impulse travels along motor neuron to effector organ Causes muscle to contract removing contact with painful stimulus Synapses Small space between neurons Electrical impulses cannot pass across this space, NTs are used to send messages from neurons
Carry out a response after a message from a motor neuron Muscles respond by contracting Glands respond by secreting hormones or enzymes

Effectors

E.1.3 Draw and label a diagram of a reflex arc for a pain withdrawal reflex, including the spinal cord and its spinal nerves, the receptor cell, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron and effector.

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E.1.4 Explain how animal responses can be affected by natural selection, using two examples. Effects of natural selection: Animal behaviour is a complicated series of responses to the habitat Some populations have changed behaviour in response to a change in environment Variations in behaviour occur in populations, can be selected by environment Some variations allow organisms to survive and reproduce better Natural selection: behaviour best fitted for environment is more likely to survive/reproduce 1. European blackcaps: Small warblers that migrate between Spain and Germany 50 years ago started coming to UK instead of Spain for winter UK ones left to go back to Germany 10 days earlier than Spanish ones The earlier they arrived in Germany -> more choice of territory -> more eggs laid UK birds had advantage over Spanish Study found the birds migrate in direction of parents no matter where they had been reared Genetically programmed to fly in certain direction Environmental benefits: Warm winters in UK increase survival Arrive earlier in Germany Change in migration patterns may result in new species (with changes in courtship) Sockeye salmon: Introduced into Lake Washington, some migrated to Cedar River Cedar River flows quickly into lake, lake is deep and quiet 13 generations have been produced since River and lake salmon stopped interbreeding Lake salmon: Spawn on beaches, females lay eggs in sand Males have heavy bodies, hide in deep waters (not efficient at navigating fast currents) River salmon: Males naturally selected to be successful in fast waters Males have thinner, narrow bodies for better manoeuvrability Females bury eggs deep in river bottom Offspring not able to spawn on lake beach
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 Offspring not able to spawn on lake beach Variations in original species selected for by different environments Now split into beach-spawning and river-spawning

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