ACCLIMIZATION

One of the “joys” of living in the Ozarks is the variable weather.  Today is 38° and yesterday was 70°.  Animals have a thermal tolerance range in which they can survive and certainly I can live in the 38° – 70° range! If an animal exceeds it’s tolerance range then it dies! This is why you don’t just dump a new fish into your aquarium. Instead, you leave it in the bag that you bought it in, and allow the temperature of the fish in the bag to even out with the temperature of your aquarium.

When the weather is consistent, animals can get used to the weather.  This is called “acclimatization”.  You can observe this in college students.  In the summer they are used to hot temperatures and the first time it drops to 65° they bundle up.  In winter, they are used to the cold and the first time the temperature reaches 65° they are out in shorts.  It is the same temperature, so why the change in wardrobe?  They have acclimatized! 

So, what do you do if the weather is variable?  Layer up buttercup!