Acclimatization
Acclimatization is the process of an organism adjusting to changes in its environment, often involving temperature or
climate. Acclimatization usually occurs in a short time, and within one organism's lifetime . This may be a discrete occurrence or may instead represent part of a periodic cycle, such as a mammal shedding heavy winter
fur in favor of a lighter summer coat. Where acclimatization occurs naturally, some authors have used
acclimation to describes the process of an organism being forced to adjust to changes in their environment by artificial means, such as in a laboratory setting.
Encyclopedia
Acclimatization is the process of an organism adjusting to changes in its environment, often involving temperature or
climate. Acclimatization usually occurs in a short time, and within one organism's lifetime . This may be a discrete occurrence or may instead represent part of a periodic cycle, such as a mammal shedding heavy winter
fur in favor of a lighter summer coat. Where acclimatization occurs naturally, some authors have used
acclimation to describes the process of an organism being forced to adjust to changes in their environment by artificial means, such as in a laboratory setting.
Plants
Many plants, such as
maple trees, irises, and
tomatoes, can survive freezing temperatures if the temperature gradually drops lower and lower each night over a period of days or weeks. The same drop might kill them if it occurred suddenly. This process is called
hardening and involves several changes, such as a decrease in the water content and an increase in the sugar content of the plant, lowering the freezing point of sap.
Animals
Animals acclimatize in many ways.
Sheep grow very thick
wool in cold, damp climates.
Fish are able to adjust only gradually to changes in water temperature and quality. Tropical fish sold at pet stores are often kept in acclimation bags until this process is complete.
Humans
When humans move from a cool or temperate
environment to a hot, dry
desert environment or vice versa, they should spend up to seven days acclimatizing to the change in their environment. This lets the body make internal adjustments to compensate for the change in environment conditions. If the acclimatization process is ignored, then the person is at higher risk for heat related injuries .
Acclimatisation to high altitude continues for months or even years after initial ascent, and ultimately enables humans to survive in an environment that, without acclimatisation, would kill them. Humans who migrate permantently to a higher altidude naturally acclimatize to their new environment by developing an increase in the number of
red blood cells to increase the
oxygen carrying capacity of the
blood, in order to compensate for lower levels of
oxygen in the air.
See also
References
- World Book encyclopedia 1989
Footnotes
