Differences Between Homeostasis & Acclimatization
Living organisms face an environment where conditions can change from day to day, hour to hour and even minute to minute. Each organism must have a system of processes to help maintain its own internal environment when conditions change. Homeostasis and acclimatization are two processes that help organisms meet their needs within changing environments.
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Time Frames
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Homeostatic processes help keep the internal control of an organism stable from minute to minute. These systems work together based on the changing environment to achieve an equilibrium for the organism. For example, homeostatic processes like sweating or shivering maintain internal body temperatures in mammals. Acclimatization processes take longer and react to changes in the environment that occur over longer periods of time. An animal growing or shedding its winter coat when the temperatures outside change is an example of acclimatization.
Positive and Negative Feedback Loops
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Homeostasis works on two premises, positive and negative feedback loops. A positive feedback loop is when a change is recognized and the body reacts to speed up the process. An example is blood clotting. When the body recognizes that it has been cut, it responds by speeding up the clotting process. A negative feedback loop is one where the body works to stop or negate a change, such as dilating blood vessels and sweating to reduce body temperature or constricting arteries and shivering to increase body temperature. Acclimatization responds to one variable in the environment and acts according to that need. For example, if a plant is covered by shade, the plant's leaves may grow larger to help increase photosynthesis of the plant.
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How Often They Are Used
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Homeostatic processes are required for the everyday life of every organism. These processes are always working and monitoring the body for any changes within the system. Blood sugar levels are always changing along with pH levels within the body. Acclimatization processes, however, are not always required. Acclimatization occurs only when a special need arises within the environment.
Reversibility
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The homeostatic processes are based on the ability to change and reverse course quickly. These processes must adjust and work quickly to keep the body in equilibrium. The processes can literally reverse themselves in seconds. The changes from acclimatization are reversible; however, the process to reverse the acclimatization takes longer. Animals that grow long winter coats may take days or weeks to get rid of their heavier coats. This may cause the homeostatic processes to work harder, since it is harder to maintain temperature with heavier coats trapping heat.
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