Enviromental Adaptations
Enviromental Adaptations
Population A
Zulu-- from South Africa
Environment: The Zulu Kingdom is located in KwaZulu Natal on the east coast of South Africa, characterized by a subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers, quite a lot of humidity and a fair amount of light rainfall. The average temperature ranges from 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). The climate is relatively dry, with most rainfall occurring during the summer months. The terrain is varied, with mountains, valleys, and grasslands.
Cultural Adaptation: The Zulu are best known for their beadwork and basketry. The use of beads, which were often obtained from local sources, helped to reduce the reliance on imported materials and supported local trade and commerce. This adaptation helps the Zulu people resolve stress caused by drought and maintain homeostasis by ensuring their food security.
Race: I would categorize the Zulu people as Black African. This is due to their dark skin color, black hair, and facial features.
Adaptation vs. Race: The Zulu population's dark skin is an adaptation to protect against the sun's UV radiation, while being categorized as Black African is based on traditional notions of race. In my opinion the physical and cultural adaptations have more explanatory power in understanding the population's behavior and survival strategies, as they provide insight into their relationship with their environment. On the other side, race can showcase bias judgments, and can be misleading or harmful. This can help anthropologists understand multiple factors including genetics, environment, culture, and history.
Population B
Andean Indians-- from the Andes mountains
Environment: The Andean Indians are a population that lives in the Andes mountains, which stretch through seven countries in South America, including Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. The environment in which they live is characterized by high altitudes, with average temperatures ranging from 40°F to 60°F (4°C to 16°C). The climate is also quite variable, with significant changes in temperature and precipitation between seasons. The Andean region receives low levels of rainfall, with some areas receiving as little as 10 inches (250 mm) per year.
Physical Adaptation: One physical adaptation of the Andean Indians is their ability to cope with high-altitude hypoxia. The Andean Indians have developed a unique physiological response to high-altitude hypoxia. They have a higher concentration of red blood cells in their blood, which allows them to transport more oxygen to their bodies.
Race: I would categorize the Andean Indians as Indigenous or Native American. This is because they are part of the original population of the Americas and have maintained their cultural and linguistic traditions over time.
Adaptation vs. Race: Physical adaptations, such as the Andean Indians' high concentration of red blood cells, are crucial for their survival and way of life. In my opinion, physical adaptations overpower racial classification, which is based on superficial physical characteristics and is not relevant to their adaptations. I believe that physical adaptations are more valuable to anthropologists, as they provide a deeper understanding of the Andeans' relationship with their environment and cultural practices. This can help anthropologists understand how the Andeans evolved and adapted to their changing environment over time.
Resources:
Hi K. I also wrote about clothes when it came to both cultures but I did it a bit differently. Where you spoke about clothes for the Andeans I spoke about it for both as I thought it would be a nice contrast. I do think that your posts are a lot better and cleaner than mine though I would like to learn how to make my blog look better. It was a bit confusing for me to work the site. I also like that you spoke about the skin color of the Zulu and how it helps with heat. Its an interesting thing that in hotter weather people develop darker skin to not only fight against the UV rays but to also protect against a type of acid that I can't remember. What I'm getting at is in another class I was taught that dark skin protects against this acid which can harm pregnancies. While lighter skin is needed because of the lack of sun in areas where it was developed; to absorb more from the sun.
ReplyDeleteZulu:
ReplyDelete1. Okay, but in your section on physical adaptations, you highlight an adaptation to solar radiation stress. Should that have been included in your discussion on the environment in this section?
2. Physical: A couple of issues here: Skin color is an adaptation to solar radiation and Vitamin D absorption and not to heat or dehydration. Vitamin D is absorbed through the skin from the sun but is hindered by melanin. Where the sun's rays are the most intense, it is possible to have dark skin and still receive enough Vitamin D through the skin, but at higher latitudes, where the sun's rays are less intense, it is necessary to have lighter skin to still absorb sufficient Vitamin D. That explains why populations evolved lighter skin tones as they migrated farther north/south.
3. Cultural: These *indirectly* help with the repercussions of environmental factors but they don't *directly* address them. There are resources in the Canvas course, on the page before this assignment, that explain these adaptations. Examples would be their housing structures which allow for good ventilation to address heat stress and light, cool clothing as another heat stress adaptation.
4. I agree with the designation of "black". "Africa" is a geographical location/continent, not a race. There are many races that live in Africa, so we can't use it to indicate just one. A more accurate choice would be "black" or "negroid".
Andean:
1. Good detail here but in your Physical adaptation section, you discuss a trait that helps deal with high altitude (i.e., hypoxia) stress. It would have been a good idea to include that stress in your discussion in this first section.
2. Physical: Good!
3. Cultural: Good example here. Important to note that they get the wool for these text tiles from Alpacas, which can also be used for transport over rock, steep terrain, along with milk and meat. A great cultural adaptation to that environment.
4. I agree with your choice here.
5. Summary: Okay, I think you hit the key points there, though I'm going to offer a little more specific points on the issue of "explanatory power" which you touch on with your reference to "understanding" these differences.
Race is not based in biology but is a social construct, based in beliefs and preconceptions, and used only to categorize humans into groups based upon external physical features, much like organizing a box of crayons by color. Race does not *cause* adaptations like environmental stress do, and without that causal relationship, you can't use race to explain adaptations. Race has no explanatory value over human variation.
Hey Kenya!
ReplyDeleteWonderful job on your visual appeal! I think you did a good general analysis of both populations. I liked how we had a category of 'Adaptation Vs. Race', and I think that you answered both very well. I liked how you described an economic impact of the Zulu Population and how it's affected how they have adapted. It was an interesting take as people will do what they need to survive and thrive