What does kinesis refer to in animal movement?

Kinesis refers to a type of movement characterized by random, undirected motion, where the speed or rate of movement changes in response to an environmental stimulus. This means that the movement is not aimed towards or away from a specific stimulus but instead varies in intensity or direction based on the conditions of the environment. For instance, organisms may increase their speed or become more active when in a favorable environment or slow down when in an unfavorable one.

In contrast, movements towards a stimulus are described as taxis, while fixed behavior patterns are typically considered as part of more complex learned or instinctual behaviors, which do not encompass the random and variable nature of kinesis. Understanding kinesis are crucial for appreciating how organisms interact with their environment in a non-directed manner.