What is the Difference Between Orthokinesis and Klinokinesis

The main difference between orthokinesis and klinokinesis is that orthokinesis is the slow or rapid movement of the organism in response to a stimulus, whereas klinokinesis is the rapid or slow turns of the organism in response to a stimulus. 

Orthokinesis and klinokinesis are two movements of organisms in response to a stimulus. They are random movements of organisms. Also, they are two types of kinesis.     

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Kinesis
– Definition, Facts, Examples
1. What is Orthokinesis
– Definition, Facts, Examples
2. What is Klinokinesis
– Definition, Facts, Examples
3. Similarities Between Orthokinesis and Klinokinesis
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Orthokinesis and Klinokinesis
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms 

Klinokinesis, Orthokinesis

What is Kinesis

Kinesis is the random movement of organisms in response to a stimulus. Also, it can refer to the change in an organism’s activity level depending on a stimulus’s intensity. Since it generates random movements, kinesis is neither positive nor negative. An example of kinesis is the random movement of a group of cockroaches in response to high-intensity light. Other stimuli generating kinesis can be gas exposure, ambient temperature, etc.

Figure 1: Woodlouse Activity Decreases as Humidity Increases.

Furthermore, depending on the comfort zone of each organism, the rate of kinesis can differ. Therefore, fast movement indicates that the organism is searching for a comfort zone, while slow movement indicates that the organism has already found its comfort zone. Also orthokinesis and klinokinesis are the two types of kinesis. 

What is Orthokinesis

Orthokinesis is the slow or rapid movement of organisms in response to stimuli. Importantly, the intensity of the stimulus determines the speed of movement in orthokinesis. The rate of movement of the slater is inversely proportional to the humidity, an example of orthokinesis. Also, the locomotion of collembola in relation to water is another example of orthokinesis. With the increase in water saturation of the soil, the direction of the movement of the collembola is more aimed towards the place.

Figure 2: Slater

What is Klinokinesis

Klinokinesis is an organism’s rapid or slow turns in response to a stimulus. Also, the frequency or rate of turning is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus in klinokinesis. The lice turn more when the temperature of the human skin is high is an example of klinokinesis. Also, the kinesis of the flatworm turns more frequently in response to increasing light. It keeps flatworms more in dark areas.

Figure 3: Head Louse

Similarities Between Orthokinesis and Klinokinesis

• Orthokinesis and klinokinesis are two movement types that occur in organisms.
• They are random movements with no direction.

Difference Between Orthokinesis and Klinokinesis

Definition

Orthokines refers to a form of kinesis in which the speed of movement of the individual depends upon the intensity of the stimulus. In contrast, klinokinesis refers to the movement that is induced by stimulation and that involves essentially random alteration of direction. 

Type of Movement

Orthokinesis is the slow or rapid movement of the organism in response to a stimulus, while klinokinesis is the rapid or slow turns of the organism in response to a stimulus. 

Properties

The intensity of the stimulus determines the speed of the movement in orthokinesis, while the intensity of the stimulus determines the rate of turning in klinokinesis.  

Examples

The rate of movement of the slater is inversely proportional to the humidity is an example of orthokinesis, while the lice turn more when the temperature of the human skin is high is an example of klinokinesis. 

Conclusion

In brief, orthokinesis and klinokinesis are two random movements of organisms. Orthokinesis is the slow or rapid movement in response to the stimulus in organisms. The intensity of the stimulus determines the speed of the movement. Slater has a rate of movement that is inversely proportional to the humidity, an example of orthokinesis. In comparison, klinokinesis is organisms’ slow or rapid turns in response to a stimulus. The intensity of the stimulus determines the rate of turning in klinokinesis. The lice turn more when the temperature of the human skin is high is an example of klinokinesis. Therefore, the main difference between orthokinesis and klinokinesis is the type of movement. 

References:

1. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023o, May 11). Kinesis (biology). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesis_(biology)

Image Courtesy:

1. “Oniscus asellus – male front 2 (aka)” By André Karwath aka Aka – Own work (CC-BY SA 2.5) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Slater rolled up for wiki” By Benjamint444 – Own Work (CC-BY SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
3. “Head lice” By Clevelandclinic – Own Work (CC-BY SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia