Environmental Adaptations

Population A: Zulu

Environment:

Most of the country has warm, sunny days and cool nights. Rainfall generally occurs during summer (November through March), although in the southwest, around Cape Town, rainfall occurs in winter (June to August). Temperatures are influenced by variations in elevation, terrain, and ocean currents more than latitude.

Physical Adaption:
Africans, are the natural people of Africa: The hair, the skin, are all specific adaptations to living in the African landscape. High levels of Melanin acts as a protective biological shield against the sun. Having darker skin helps to prevent sunburn and certain type of skin cancer.

Cultural Adaption:
Hunting is the basis of Zulu life and more, wildlife is equal to the belly of food for them, is equivalent to the body, clothing, but also the shield. Zulu adapted to ways of hunting in the wildlife in order to eat. Not only did they hunt for food, they then used the animals fur to keep them warm, they then used the bones as shields and weapons.


Race:
I would decribe the Zulu as Africans. They live in South Africa and have dark skin because they live in the hot climate. The Zulu have rituals and beliefs of that of African decent. They are South Africa's largest tribe.

Population B: Andean Indians

Environment:
The temperatures of the biomes around the Andes Mountains vary from place to place. In Colombia it is wet and warm, with an average temperature of 64°F. In Ecuador it is very warm in the deserts and the average is 68°F and stays that temperature through out Peru, until you get to Bolivia. In Bolivia you would find that it is dry and hot with an average of 64°F.

Physical Adaption:
The Andean Indians are people living in a rarified atmosphere, because of the high altitude, they need greater lung capacity and stronger hearts than do the people living at sea level. The chest are very broad.The ratio of oxygen content is reduced about half at 10,000 feet. Extensive wear of the teeth are because much of the food is eaten cold and dry as parched corn and beans. Such rough foods as these wear the teeth down.


Cultural Adaption:
The Andean found ways to survive by using Coca leaves. The Coca leaves was used as a folk medicine for ailments as diverse as toothache and altitude sickness. Coca has been and continues to be of importance not only for social and medicinal purposes, but the coca leaves themselves also show significant amounts of nutrients, including more iron and calcium than many of the food crops grown in the Andes. There is the belief among some Peruvian scientists that the low incidence of osteoporosis among Andean Indians is due in part to the high level of calcium in the leaves.

Race:
I would describe the Anean Indians ans Hispanics. This is based on my own life experience and the friends I've had. Some of their way of life, such as chewing the coca leaves are simular to my friends of peruvian culture. From looking at some of the pictures, they appear to be more of the Hispanic race.

Adaptation vs. Race
I stated that I beleive the Zulu was of the African race because of their skin color and their hair type, also where they live. I beleive the Andean Indians are of Hispanic race because they are lighter competion and behaivor are familar to friends of mines. I don't think looking outward is the best way to base somone's race. I do not have much knowlege about these culture beside doing the asignment and the people I have in my life. An anthropologist should do research on the behavior and background of the culture to better catergorizes the population.

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/andes_climate.htm
http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/price/price14.html
http://www.responsibletravel.com/KwaZulu-Natal-Travel-Guide/KwaZulu-Natal-Weather.htm
http://www.sa-venues.com/no/weather.htm
http://www.u86.net/2010_08__Zulu-the-other-side-of-the-world-polygamy-Photos.html
http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/africanrace.html   

Sayom M.