Behaviour of the Lower Organisms

book by Jennings

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June 22, 2026

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Herbert Spencer Jennings's The Behaviour of the Lower Organisms (1906) was a pioneering work in the study of animal behavior, specifically focusing on individual microorganisms. Jennings conducted experiments to understand how single-celled organisms react to stimuli, providing evidence for similarities in activity and reactivity across all animals, from protozoans to humans. This research contributed significantly to the field of ethology, the scientific study of animal behavior. Jennings's work laid the groundwork for future research into genetics and variation in single-celled organisms.123

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Herbert Spencer Jennings
…contribution to zoology was his Behaviour of the Lower Organisms (1906). In this study of the reactions of individual organisms and individual response to stimuli, Jennings reported new experimental evidence of the similarity of activity and reactivity in all animals, from protozoans to man.
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…contribution to zoology was his Behaviour of the Lower Organisms (1906). In this study of the reactions of individual organisms and individual response to stimuli, Jennings reported new experimental evidence of the similarity of activity and reactivity in all animals, from protozoans to man.
Read More