Final answer:
A mealworm moving towards a dark area demonstrates a positive taxis, which is an organized movement towards a stimulus. This behavior is crucial for the survival of organisms as they seek optimal living conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A mealworm moving towards a dark area is an example of an organism exhibiting a type of response known as taxes. In biology, when organisms respond to diverse stimuli by moving toward or away from it, the movement is categorized as either a positive or negative taxis. Positive taxis is when the movement is towards the stimulus, as seen in mealworms moving towards darkness, which could be considered a positive response; whereas negative taxis is when an organism moves away from a stimulus.
Such responses to stimuli are critical for the survival and adaptation of organisms in their environment. For instance, many organisms exhibit phototaxis, which is movement in response to light, similar to mealworms' response to dark areas. This biological behavior allows organisms to find optimal conditions for their survival, like food and shelter.