Abstract:
Organisms detect and respond to various sensory stimuli in the environment.
Amongst several abiotic factors, appropriate temperature is crucial for optimal development,
growth and reproduction of organisms, and plays a vital role in regulating many
physiological, biochemical and metabolic processes whereas extreme high or low
temperatures can be detrimental to survival. Temperature of a given geographical location
depends upon a number of factors such as the latitude, altitude, distance from sea or other
water bodies, vegetation, wind conditions etc. Climatic specifications of the region have a
large influence on the habitat and geographic distribution of a species. Besides these climatic
factors, the rotation of the earth around its own axis changes the temperature in a daily
fashion (being hot during the day and cold during the night). Furthermore, the fact that the
Earth’s axis has an ~ 23 degree tilt in relation to its equatorial or rotational axis gives rise to
seasonality which also heavily influences annual changes in temperature.
