Ecology investigates the interactions between organisms and their environment. One branch of ecology looks more specifically how the environment can lead to physiological effects in individuals and populations of species. Physiological ecology studies organisms coping with environmental variation. A particular species cannot live everywhere due to energy resource limitations, physiological tolerance limitations, and interactions between resources and tolerance. These determine effects on growth, survival, and reproduction. For example, Quaking aspen (populus tremuloides) is a broadly tolerant species with northern range limits including frost effects (permafrost) and a southern range limit of drought effects. Specific physiological functions are inhibited by drought and frost. Species ranges reflect environmental constraints on energy gain and physiological tolerance. Populations respond to environmental variation through adaptation (natural selection). Populations differ across a species range. Genetic variation allows for many traits, an when new conditions occur, certain mutations may be beneficial for that species. Individuals respond to environmental variation through acclimation. They adjust their phenotype to reduce effects of environmental change.
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