Chapter 9Chapter 9AcclimatizationAcclimatization

AcclimationAcclimation

AdaptationAdaptation

Laura Paton

Jessica Perrotta

Katie Rossi

Define and distinguish between the Define and distinguish between the following terms:following terms:

acclimatizationacclimatizationacclimationacclimationadaptationadaptation

Which process(es) represent (s) an Which process(es) represent (s) an ecological response and which an ecological response and which an

evolutionary response?evolutionary response?

AcclimatizationAcclimatization

• physiological, biochemical, or anatomical modifications occurring within the lifetime of an individual organism that result from exposure to a naturally occurring environmental challenge (phenotypic change).

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/mcb/441/private/kwast_lecture1.html

Example of AcclimatizationExample of AcclimatizationHumans 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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acclimation

AcclimationAcclimation

• physiological, biochemical, or anatomical modifications within an individual organism that result from exposure to an environmental challenge in a laboratory or field setting. (phenotypic change).

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/mcb/441/private/kwast_lecture1.html

Example of AcclimationExample of AcclimationACCLIMATING FISH

– The set-up of an aquarium for pet fish is an example of how an organism must acclimate. Many types of sea life are extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature. If the temperature of aquarium water is very different from that of the water a fish was transported in, the fish may have trouble adjusting. Therefore, it is often recommended that fish by acclimated by being placed in the aquarium water in the bag of it’s transport water until the temperatures of both sets of water even out.

http://reef.geddis.org/55g/p/0828-acclimate.jpg

AdaptationAdaptation

• physiological, biochemical, or anatomical modifications occurring within a species (over several generations) that facilitate an enhanced ability to survive and reproduce in a particular environment, i.e., "genetic" adaptation (genotypic change = change in a species genetic makeup).

http://www.life.uiuc.edu/mcb/441/private/kwast_lecture1.html

Example of AdaptationExample of Adaptation

• Adaptations include both traits that will increase survival and those that will increase reproduction.

• EX: DARWIN’S FINCHES– During sever droughts, the only food source available to these

birds are tough seeds. Finches with larger bills can open the seeds with more ease. Therefore, a large bill is an adaptation that increases survival rates for this finch when rain is scarce.

http://mysite.du.edu/~ttyler/ploughboy/darwinfinches.jpg

These birds have adapted camouflage to suit the leaf litter of the tropical rainforest where they live. 

When they notice an intruder they stay very still without blinking and are very difficult to spot.

Example of AdaptationExample of Adaptation

http://library.thinkquest.org/18757/gather/adaptation.htm

A pair of Stone Curlews

http://library.thinkquest.org/18757/gather/adaptation.htm

The Tulip Oak (Argyrodendron polyandrum)

This tree, despite its name, is not an oak.

This species has developed buttresses which can support the tree to grow above the canopy of the rainforest.

Example of AdaptationExample of Adaptation

Ecological Response VS Evolutionary ResponseEcological Response VS Evolutionary Response

• Ecological: both acclimation and acclimatization are ecological responses because they involve the changes that occur in a single organism due to a change in climate or environment.

• Evolutionary: adaptation is an evolutionary response, because it involves the favoring of a specific trait in an organism in a specific environment. It occurs over generations, and is thus evolutionary.

Ecological Response VS Evolutionary ResponseEcological Response VS Evolutionary Response

Key Differences in DefinitionKey Differences in DefinitionAcclimatization- occurs within an individual organism

changes within a lifetimeresults from an environmental change, change is reversibledue to natural conditionsphenotypic changeecological response

Acclimation- occurs within an individual organismchanges within a lifetimeresults from an environmental change, change is reversibledue to experimental conditionscan be in laboratory or controlled field settingphenotypic change ecological response

Adaptation- occurs within a group of individuals (population)changes over several generationsresults from an environmental change, change is not

reversibledue to either natural or experimental conditions (artificial selection)genetic changeevolutionary response