HUMAN ADAPTABILITY

1. HUMAN ADAPTABILITY Definitions Types of Adaptation Adaptation to Climate

2. DEFINITIONS Stress -- a condition that disturbs the normal functioning of the organism Fitness -- reproductive success; the ability to produce viable offspring who themselves reproduce, with minimal energy expenditure. Basal Metabolic Rate -- the amount of energy the body needs to maintain its function in an absolute resting condition

3. ADAPTATION Functional Adaptation -- involves changes in the body either as independent systems or in the organism as a whole • Acclimatization - long term • Acclimation - short term • Habituation - gradual reduction

4. Cultural Adaptation -- non-biological changes passed on as a part of socialization ADAPTATION

5. Genetic Adaptation -- the process whereby a population becomes genetically fine-tuned to the environment. Controversy as to whether this form of adaptation exists in Homo sapiens. ADAPTATION • skin color • birth weight • O2 absorption • lung capacity

6. Mountain Deciduous Grassland Arctic Rainforest Chaparral Savanna Desert Tundra ADAPTATION

7. Mountains of the World MOUNTAIN

8. MOUNTAIN • Main Difficulties -- • getting enough O2 • cold; increased radiation • low biodiversity • Biological Adaptations -- • increased pulmonary capacity • increased RBC production • Cultural Adaptations -- • use of adapted animals • high carbohydrate diet • use of cocoa

9. MOUNTAIN • Additional responses -- • slowed maturation • reduced sexual dimorphism • resting HR goes from 70 beats/min to 105 beats/min • light sensitivity decreases • memory & recall diminish • food preferences for sugars • anorexia and weight loss

10. MOUNTAIN

11. MOUNTAIN

12. Arctic Regions of the World ARCTIC

13. ARCTIC • Main Difficulties -- • cold • low biodiversity • long periods of darkness • Biological Adaptations -- • shivering responses; increase BMR • non-shivering thermogenesis • long noses; body form • brown adipose tissue • Cultural Adaptations -- • clothes, fire, & housing • high protein diet

14. ARCTIC

15. ARCTIC • Bergman’s Rule -- • in bodies of the same shape, the larger has less surface area • increased amount of metabolic tissue therefore internal heat gain is greater

16. ARCTIC • Increase BMR - • basic level of heat production by the body based on chemical reactions of metabolism • muscular activity can raise BMR by 5 times • several hormones raise BMR such as epinephrine, norepinephrine, and thyroxine • dietary intake causes an increase in metabolic rate as body works to digest food

17. ARCTIC • Core Shell Model - • vasoconstriction causes blood to pool and conserve organ heat • vasodilation increases the flow

18. ARCTIC

19. ARCTIC

20. Deserts of the World DESERT

21. Main Difficulties -- • hot & dry • lack of water • lack of biodiversity DESERT • Biological Adaptations -- • lower pulse rate • decreased salt output in sweat • body form • highly tanable skin • Cultural Adaptations -- • houses of adobe, cloth • clothing aids evaporation • activity patterns

22. DESERT • Allen’s Rule -- keeping mass constant, increasing surface area with long, linear form

23. DESERT • Skin Color -- • brunette tanable • UV radiation, vitamin D production • melanin; conduction

24. DESERT

25. DESERT

26. Rainforests of the World RAINFOREST

27. RAINFOREST • Main Difficulties -- • heat loss is difficult • low animal biodiversity • Biological Adaptations -- • highly tanable skin • ready onset of sweating • short broad nose • Cultural Adaptations -- • live near water • little clothing • low salt intake • reduced activity levels

28. RAINFOREST “black body” radiation

29. RAINFOREST • Acclimatization to Rainforest -- • increased peripheral heat conductance • high vasodilation & blood flow • lower sweat output • enhanced sodium resorption

30. RAINFOREST