Diurnality

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/diurnality

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?N/A (Diurnality is a behavioral trait, not a species)
2. What is the key feature?Activity primarily during daylight hours, synchronized with the light-dark cycle
3. What does "diurnal" mean?Diurnal animals are those that are awake and active during daylight hours.
4. Why do many animals prefer to be awake during the day?Daylight gives them better vision to find food and spot predators early.

Diurnality: A behavioral pattern characterized by peak activity during daylight hours and rest during the night.
Circadian Rhythm: An endogenous biological oscillator that controls daily cycles of physiological and behavioral processes.
Zeitgeber: An external environmental cue, such as light or temperature, that entrains an organism's circadian rhythm.
Temporal Niche: The period of time during which an organism is active, influencing its interactions with other species.