The ability of living organism to detect and respond to changes in the environment is referred to as

The ability of living organisms to detect and respond to changes in the environment is called "irritability." This refers to the ability of an organism to detect and respond to stimuli from the environment, such as light, temperature, touch, or sound. For example, if you touch a hot stove, your body's ability to feel the heat and quickly move your hand away is an example of irritability. Similarly, a plant's ability to grow towards light is also an example of irritability, as it responds to the stimulus of light to orient its growth. Other terms listed in the options have different meanings. "Locomotion" refers to an organism's ability to move from one place to another, while "growth" refers to an organism's increase in size or complexity over time. "Taxis" refers to a type of movement in response to a stimulus, such as the movement of bacteria towards a food source or away from a harmful substance.