Adaptation

1. Select only ONE of the following environmental stresses: (a) heat, (b) high levels of solar
radiation, (c) cold, or (d) high altitude. Discuss specifically how this environmental stress
negatively impacts the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis.

Cold is an environmental stress that impacts the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis. It does this by dropping core body temperature, reducing blood flow in appendages, diminishing motor skills, slowing reaction time, and lowering the immune system. As a result, one might suffer from shivering, teeth chattering, hypothermia, frost nip, frost bite, diminished cognitive ability, and given enough exposure, death.


2. Identify 4 ways in which humans have adapted to this stress, choosing one specific adaptation
from each of the different types of adaptations listed above (short term, facultative,
developmental and cultural). Include images of the adaptations.

Short term adaptations include the raising of hairs on the skin in an attempt to trap air and shivering in order to maintain warmth.

Inuit tribes have the remarkable adaptation of switching between vasoconstriction and vasodilation rapidly according to their environmental stress. Vasoconstriction is the constriction of the blood vessels while vasodilation is just the opposite .This is an example of a facultative adaptation.

Natural, gradual slanting of the eyes in Inuits are an example of developmental adaptation. This is most likely a response to the sun reflecting off the snow causing snowblindness.

Inuits utilizing seal blubber and animal hides to regulate body temperature is an example of cultural adaptation. Also, Inuit's diet consists of food high in fats and carbohydrates. This helps to maintain energy as they burn calories at a high rate.

3. What are the benefits of studying human variation from this perspective across environmental
clines? Can information from explorations like this be useful to help us in any way? Offer one
example of how this information can be used in a productive way.

Studying human variations in this way is beneficial because we can trace the different environments our ancestors faced while evolving into who we are today. It also serves to help us understand what changes we should expect to make when entering a certain environment. For instance, the snow goggles I mentioned previously is an important tool to preserving ones eyes whilst in a very cold climate that experiences light reflection off the ground. We see that Inuit eyes have a natural slant to them, creating snow goggles was a logical step to prevent damage to the eyes.


4. How would you use race to understand the variation of the adaptations you listed in #2? Explain why the study of environmental influences on adaptations is a better way to understand human variation than by the use of race.


The study of environmental influences on adaptations is a great way to understand where we can from and where we are going in the future. We can see Africans with their melanin-rich skin and understand that humans in Africa were/are exposed to a lot of sun, we see Inuits with slanted eyes and understand they need to block out snowblindness. Japanese people share the slanted eyes but have adapted them under very different circumstances. It's fun to think that these variations happened due to humans being located on different parts of the Earth. Now, imagine what human evolution will be like in the age of space colonization! Our evolution will be so dynamic it's unfathomable. It's all very exciting to think of. Studying adaptations on Earth allow for us to understand our origins and to stretch our imaginations.