Acclimatization - Junka

Acclimation refers to the process in which an individual adjusts its own functions to the environment when it is subjected to a certain environmental change during its life. This adjustment is not genetically fixed. For example, if you suddenly climb a high mountain, the oxygen partial pressure at atmospheric pressure is low, so the body cannot get enough oxygen, causing headaches and, in severe cases, altitude sickness. However, if you stay there for a while, the continuous physiological reactions in the body will eventually increase the number of red blood cells and allow you to act healthily. In this way, when moving to a high (or low) altitude involving changes in air pressure, oxygen partial pressure, temperature, etc., seasonal changes in temperature and light, and moving between freshwater and seawater where salinity and water pressure change, the process of getting used to a new environment from an initial physiologically unstable state, taking several days to several weeks, and the result of this are called acclimation. The adjustment of an organism to changes in climate is specifically called acclimatization, and this is often what is simply referred to as acclimatization.

[Yamazaki Egane]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

個体の一生の間に、ある環境変化を受けたとき、生理的な調整によって、その環境に自身の機能をうまくあわせることをいう。この調整は遺伝的に固定されることはない。たとえば、急に高山へ登ると、大気圧の酸素分圧が低いため、体に必要な酸素を十分に補えず、頭痛をおこしたり、ひどい場合には高山病となるが、しばらくそこに滞在すると体内の連続的な生理的反応により、やがて赤血球が増加し、健康に行動できるようになる。このように、気圧・酸素分圧・温度などの変化が関与する高地（または低地）への移動、温度・光などの変化する季節変化、塩分・水圧などの変化する淡水や海水間の移動などの際、最初の生理的に不安定な状態から新しい環境に慣れるのに、数日から数週間を要するような過程、およびその結果を順化acclimationという。なお、気候の変化に対する生体の調整は、とくに気候順化acclimatizationとよび、単に順化といえばこれをさす場合が多い。

［山崎柄根］

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