tion:Overview Inuit (ESKIMO) livingin a polar desert--anexample of the humanability to survive inextreme environments photo of an Inuit man feeding his dog team during the winter on an ice fieldThe human body readily responds to changing environmental stresses in a variety of biological and cultural ways. We can acclimatize to a wide RANGE of temperature and humidity. When traveling to high altitudes, our bodies adjust so that our cells still receive sufficient oxygen. We also are constantly responding in physiological ways to internal and external stresses such as bacterial and viral infections, air and water pollution, dietary imbalance, and overcrowding.This ability to rapidly adapt to varying environmental conditions has made it possible for us to survive in most regions of the world. We live successfully in HUMID tropical forests, harsh deserts, arctic wastelands, and even densely populated cities with CONSIDERABLE amounts of pollution. Most other animal and plant species are restricted to one or relatively few environments by their more limited adaptability.