High attitude is a major environmental stress for humans because the air pressure is decreased and the extreme changes in climate from day to night. High attitude decreased air pressure making it difficult for human to take in oxygen and can lead to hypoxia. In serious cases, cerebral edema and pulmonary edema can develop which can lead to death very quickly.
Short-term adaptations
Increase in heart rate and breathing; pulse and blood pressure pump harder to get more oxygen.
Facultative adaptations
Acclimatization takes place; more red blood cells and capillaries are produced to carry more oxygen. Lungs increase in size to facilitate the osmosis of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Developmental adaptations
Population in Tibetan villagers who lived about 15,000 feet showed to have 10 oxygen-procession genes not found in lowland populations. Population of Indians from the high mountain valleys in Peru and Bolivia has produced more hemoglobin in their blood and their lung expansion capability. There is an increased blood flow near the skin surface.
Cultural adaptations
Populations who lived in high altitude, a tool kit, control of fire, and protective clothing are important cultural adaptations. Mountain climbers on the other hand, use oxygen tanks to help for breathing when in high altitudes.
The benefits of studying human variation from this perspective across environmental clines are to understand the differences of people living in completely different settings and how or why they continued to live there. By studying these different stresses, we can better prepare ourselves if ever being faced with any of these stresses.
Using race to understand human variation of adaptations is not an accurate especially when compared to environmental influences. Observing how human adapt based on those environmental influences is much more accurate form of studying human variation.
I really liked your post and agree with you that environmental stressors lead us to learn more about adaptation. Race is almost a backwards way to study it. Good job!
ReplyDeleteGood discussion on the stress and adaptations.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that race is not very useful in studying human variation, buy why not?
I did the same study on high altitude. After reading your post, I better understand why race isn't a factor because altitude isn't impacted by the color of skin or a persons looks. I loved your first picture of the heart :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. It is really interesting that high altitude takes a toll on humans and their health. But humans have to adapt to their surroundings to better survive. Living in the mountains at almost 6000 ft myself, I don't find it hard to do everyday tasks because I have adapted to it. But my family, when they come to visit me, have a much harder time, mostly having a hard time breathing.
ReplyDeleteOh and great pics!
Good post. I liked how you made it so to the point without a lot of words and the pictures really demonstrated what you were talking about.
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