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acclimatization

  (ə-klī'mə-tĭ-zā'shən) pronunciation
n.

The physiological adaptation of an animal or plant to changes in climate or environment, such as light, temperature, or altitude.


 
 
Food and Fitness: acclimatization

Acclimatization is the reversible process by which a person becomes adapted to a change in the environment. It requires adaptations to a variety of factors (e.g. temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure). Acclimation, by contrast, involves an adaptation to a single factor (e.g. temperature). See also altitude and heat acclimatization.

 
Thesaurus: acclimatization

noun

    Adjustment to a changing environment: acclimation. Biology adaptation. See change/persist.

 

Any of numerous gradual, long-term responses of an individual organism to changes in its environment. The responses are more or less habitual and reversible should conditions revert to an earlier state. These criteria differentiate acclimatization from homeostasis; from growth and development (which cannot be reversed); and from evolutionary adaptation (which occurs in a population over generations). Acclimatization can occur in anticipation of a change and enable organisms to survive conditions beyond their natural experience. Examples include adaptations to seasonal changes and adjustments to changes in altitude.

For more information on acclimatization, visit Britannica.com.

 

A reversible physiological adaptation to environmental changes, e.g. a change of altitude or climate. See also altitude acclimatization, heat acclimatization.

 
Veterinary Dictionary: acclimatization

The adaptation of an animal to the climatic conditions in an area. The ability to adapt in this way is an important characteristic of livestock.


 
Gardener's Dictionary: acclimatization

The physiological adaptation of a plant to changes in climate or site, such as in light, temperature, or altitude.

 
Wikipedia: acclimatization
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Two alpinists

Acclimatization is the process of an organism adjusting to changes in its environment, often involving temperature or climate (In laboratory conditions, this same process is termed "Acclimation"). Acclimatization usually occurs in a short time, and within one organism's lifetime (compare adaptation). 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 describe the process of an organism being forced to adjust to changes in their environment by artificial means, such as in a laboratory setting.[1]

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 (see homeostasis) 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 (heat stroke, heat cramp, pneumonia).

Acclimatization to high altitude continues for months or even years after initial ascent, and ultimately enables humans to survive in an environment that, without acclimatization, would kill them. Humans who migrate permanently to a higher altitude 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. [2]

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut. Animal Physiology: adaptation and environment. 4th Ed. Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 1990.
  2. ^ Kenneth Baillie and Alistair Simpson. Altitude oxygen calculator. Apex (Altitude Physiology EXpeditions). Retrieved on 2006-08-10. - Altitude physiology model

 
Misspellings: acclimatization

Common misspelling(s) of acclimatization

  • acclimitization

 
 

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Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Food and Fitness. Food and Fitness: A Dictionary of Diet and Exercise. Copyright © 1997, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Thesaurus. Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. The Veterinary Dictionary. Copyright © 2007 by Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Acclimatization" Read more
Answers Corporation Misspellings. © 1999-2008 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more

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