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. (5 pts)
Heat
is one of many environmental stresses that negatively affects the homeostasis
(otherwise known as internal equilibrium) of humans. For humans to survive, the
human body needs to respond to an increase in external temperature. Heat can
cause anything from minor medial conditions like rashes and dehydration to very
serious illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Besides affecting your
health, various internal impacts are also caused by heat including slowing down brain operation of the brain, inhibiting
nerve connections, and causing cramping and muscle spasms.
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. (5 pts each/ 20 pts total)
Short
term: Sweating is a body’s reaction to heat. Sweat is expelled from the body’s
pores and the evaporation that takes place after It is expelled is what cools
the body down. Heat is being transferred out of the body and into the external
environment.
Studying
human variations in this way is beneficial because it shows why human vary in
their abilities to cope and adapt to these environmental stresses. One example
where we can use this information in a productive way is to explain why
individuals in the Middle East have a higher tolerance to the extreme heat as
opposed to individuals in the relatively mild climates in the U.S. The
information we find can improve our method for dealing with heat in the U.S.
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. (10 pts)
Race
unites people by a common historical, cultural, and linguistic background. Many
confuse race with the color of your skin. Environmental stresses, like heat,
affect one’s physical being rather than one’s cultural being. This means that
race has little to no effect on our adaptations to environmental stress.
Hi Freddie Svendsen,
ReplyDeleteI like the many examples you used to describe how heat puts a negative impact on humans, you are right a lot does come into play than just dehydration. I like how you think that it is beneficial to studying humans by using the middle easy as an example with people dealing with heat every day. Very well thought out post.
-Corey Sims
Freddie,
ReplyDeleteI liked your explanations for the various heat adaptions. Very concise and articulate. I undoubtedly agree with your point that race has little to do with our adaptations. Very interesting and informative post!
Anne Tereska
Great opening discussion on the affects of heat stress.
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, well done on your adaptations. The only one to correct is your developmental trait. Yes, heat may have been an factor in the transition of humans from quadrupeds to bipeds, but this is a discussion on modern human variation. All humans are bipeds.. no variation! How have modern human populations adapted genetically to heat stress? Consider body shape: Bergmann and Allen's rules help explain this adaptation.
"Race unites people by a common historical, cultural, and linguistic background."
I'm not sure that "unite" is the word to use. I would argue that race is partially defined by these factors, but also by more basic external features, such as skin color. But you are correct that race is not a biological concept... it is a social construct and a subjective one at that. It differs drastically across cultures and cannot be used objectively to understand human variation without bias coming into play.
Other than the point on the developmental trait, good post.