Title: Human adaptability.

POPLINE Document Number: 201452

Author(s):

Baker PT

Source citation:

In: Human biology: an introduction to human evolution, variation, growth, and adaptability, 3rd edition, [by] G.A. Harrison, J.M. Tanner, D.R. Pilbeam and P.T. Baker. Oxford, England, Oxford University Press, 1988. :437-547. (Oxford Science Publications.)

Abstract:

Over the long period of time from the first appearance of the genus "Homo" to the emergence of the species "sapiens," frequent adaptations must have occurred to allow survival in the changing environment. Understanding how we have adapted, adjusted, and coped with our natural and social environments through time may be a key to explaining why we function and behave as we do. The author discusses the 2 major approaches to studying man's changes. Human ecology may take 3 forms. Cultural ecology emphasizes the regularities of human behavior, social structures, and values which develop or evolve in response to particular environmental niches or situations. Evolutionary ecology focuses on innate behavior which increases the efficiency of resource utilization. Biological human ecology concentrates on how the natural and cultural environments affected the biological characteristics of given human populations. Human adaptability is devoted to studying how the environment affected the morphological and physiological characteristics of people. This is usually accomplished by means of "natural experiments" which study individuals or groups whose living conditions approximate the conditions required by the experimental design.

Keywords:

Ecology
Biology
Genetics, Population
Social Adjustment
Culture
Physiology
Environment
Genetics
Social Behavior
Behavior