Editing Acclimatization (section)

{{Short description|Biological adjustment to new climates}}
{{Distinguish|Acclamation}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use American English|date = March 2019}}

'''Acclimatization''' [[American and British English spelling differences#iseize|or]] '''acclimatisation''' ([[#Names|also called]] '''acclimation''' or '''acclimatation''') is the process in which an individual [[organism]] adjusts to a [[environmental change|change in its environment]] (such as a change in altitude, temperature, humidity, [[photoperiod]], or [[pH]]), allowing it to maintain [[Fitness (biology)|fitness]] across a range of environmental conditions. Acclimatization occurs in a short period of time (hours to weeks), and within the organism's lifetime (compared to [[adaptation]], which is evolution, taking place over many generations). This may be a discrete occurrence (for example, when [[mountaineering|mountaineers]] acclimate to [[altitude#High altitude and low pressure|high altitude]] over hours or days) or may instead represent part of a periodic cycle, such as a [[mammal]] shedding heavy winter [[fur]] in favor of a lighter summer coat. Organisms can adjust their morphological, behavioral, physical, and/or biochemical traits in response to changes in their environment.<ref>(2009) “Acclimatisation” (n.d.) The Unabridged Hutchinson Encyclopedia Retrieved November 5, 2009 from http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/acclimatization</ref> While the capacity to acclimate to novel environments has been well documented in thousands of species, researchers still know very little about how and why organisms acclimate the way that they do.