Adaptation in extreme stressful conditions: some technologies of studying

Adaptation is a fundamental phenomenon ensuring biological organisms' survival in changing environmental conditions. Studying this and related phenomena is critically necessary for people not only in conditions of peaceful life but also in conditions of war. Aim. Description of some research technologies and results of their application to study the adaptation of various organisms to stressful extreme mountain conditions. Methods. Comparative analysis of a large number of the data from experiments and observations of phylogenetically different organisms under the changed stressful conditions of hypoxia and other factors of the highlands. Standard methods of laboratory analysis of some vital indicators of biological organisms. Day and night collection methods using a light trap were used to collect insects. In some cases, pheromones were used. Mathematical and program modeling. Results. Modern concepts of physiological adaptation based on Ukrainian and foreign classical studies were observed. The evolutionary aspects of adaptation studies were observed, taking into account two main strategies of biological organisms adaptation, as well as evolutionary aspects of adaptation to hypoxia were considered using the examples of insects and mammals (gophers). The research technologies and obtained results were described in detail — both the results of field observations and those registered in laboratory conditions. The primary attention was focused on the results of contemporary works of Ukrainian scientists. In this way, various directions of research were characterized in detail for insects and mammals (gophers). Special attention was paid to the problems of human adaptation to stressful conditions. The effects were registered on volunteers from special groups (rescuers, pilots, others). Conclusions. The results of numerous long-term studies of adaptation on examples of vertebrates and invertebrates were described. A comprehensive analysis of the obtained results was made. A number of general theoretical conclusions that were made on the basis of presented results were given as well. Functional adaptation was put in the base of hypoxytherapy methods.