What aspect of orthokinesis is particularly significant?

Study for the NCEA Level 3 Biology AS91602 Exam on Plant and Animal Responses with targeted questions and detailed explanations. Get exam ready now!

The significance of speed of movement being tied to stimulus intensity in orthokinesis highlights a crucial adaptive behavior in organisms. Orthokinesis refers to a type of movement where the speed of an organism is influenced by the intensity of a stimulus in its environment. For instance, when an organism encounters a higher concentration of food, it tends to move more quickly, allowing it to exploit resources effectively. This mechanism enhances survival by optimizing foraging efficiency, especially in environments where resources are patchy or unevenly distributed.

In contrast, other options such as random movement based on food availability or turning behavior over distances do not capture the core focus of orthokinesis, which is specifically about the relationship between movement speed and stimulus intensity rather than directional specificity or randomness in movement. Directional movement toward a target pertains more to taxis, where organisms move in response to a specific directional stimulus, rather than adjusting speed based on stimulus intensity.

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