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Animal Behavior

Behavior Basics

What kinds of behavior do protozoa exhibit?

Protozoa react to changes in their immediate environment, but evidence has not been found that this is learned behavior. For example, paramecia will avoid a strong chemical or physical stimulus by turning to locate an escape route; for instance, cool water cause paramecia to swim away since they prefer warmer temperatures. (For more about protozoa, see the chapter “Bacteria, Viruses, and Protists.”)