Chapter 9 AcclimatizationAcclimationAdaptation Laura Paton Jessica Perrotta Katie Rossi

Define and distinguish between the following terms: acclimatization acclimation adaptation Which process(es) represent (s) an ecological response and which an evolutionary response?

Acclimatization 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).

Example of Acclimatization 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.

Acclimation 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).

Example of Acclimation ACCLIMATING 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.

Adaptation 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).

Example 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.

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 Adaptation A pair of Stone Curlews

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 Adaptation

Ecological 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 Response

Key Differences in Definition Acclimatization- occurs within an individual organism changes within a lifetime results from an environmental change, change is reversible due to natural conditions phenotypic change ecological response Acclimation- occurs within an individual organism changes within a lifetime results from an environmental change, change is reversible due to experimental conditions can be in laboratory or controlled field setting phenotypic change ecological response Adaptation- occurs within a group of individuals (population) changes over several generations results from an environmental change, change is not reversible due to either natural or experimental conditions (artificial selection) genetic change evolutionary response