What is the Difference Between Taxis and Tropism?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Taxis and tropism are both directional movements in response to stimuli, such as light, water, and gravity. However, there is a key difference between the two:
- Taxis refers to the directional movement of animals in response to a stimulus. For example, chemotaxis is the movement of an animal in response to a chemical stimulus, and phototaxis is the movement of an animal in response to light.
- Tropism refers to the directional movement of plants in response to a stimulus. Tropisms are controlled by a plant hormone called auxin and are named based on the stimulus. For example, phototropism is the movement of a plant in response to light, and hydrotropism is the movement of a plant in response to water.
In summary, the primary difference between taxis and tropism is that taxis is associated with animal movements, while tropism is associated with plant movements. Both responses can be positive or negative, depending on whether the organism moves towards or away from the stimulus.
Comparative Table: Taxis vs Tropism
The main difference between taxis and tropism lies in the type of organisms they involve and their directional movement in response to a stimulus. Here is a table comparing the two:
| Feature | Taxis | Tropism |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Taxis is the directional movement of animals in response to a stimulus. | Tropism is the response of plants to a stimulus, involving the directional movement of the whole plant or its parts. |
| Organisms | Primarily related to animal movements. | Primarily related to plant movements. |
| Directional Movement | Animals show taxis as a response to stimuli, which can be positive or negative. | Plants show tropism as a response to stimuli, which can be positive or negative. |
| Purpose | Helps animals survive in their environment successfully by allowing them to move towards or away from stimuli. | Helps plants survive in their environment successfully by allowing them to move towards or away from stimuli. |
| Examples | A moth flying towards a source of light or a mouse running away from a predator. | A sunflower turning its face towards the sun or a plant's roots growing towards the ground. |
Both taxis and tropism are essential for the survival and well-being of animals and plants, allowing them to adapt to their environment and respond to various stimuli.
- Phototropism vs Geotropism
- Positive vs Negative Tropism
- Kinesis vs Taxis
- Photoperiodism vs Phototropism
- Uber vs Taxi
- Thigmotropism vs Thigmonasty
- Cab vs Taxi
- Tropic vs Nastic Movement
- Transportation vs Translocation
- Tautomerism vs Metamerism
- Thigmomorphogenesis vs Nastic Movement
- Epimorphosis vs Morphallaxis
- Differentiation vs Morphogenesis
- Chemotaxis vs Diapedesis
- Locomotion vs Movement
- Prototropy vs Tautomerism
- Metagenesis vs Metamorphosis
- Autotomy vs Regeneration
- Transport vs Transportation