Final answer:
Acclimatization is the physiological process that allows organisms to adjust to their environment, such as increasing red blood cells at higher altitudes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of physiological adaptation that occurs in response to changes in the natural environment is known as acclimatization. Acclimatization allows animals to compensate for changes in their environment and improves function in a new environment. For example, when an animal migrates to a higher altitude, its body may increase the number of red blood cells to adjust to lower oxygen levels, thereby maintaining homeostasis.
This physiological process is distinct from other forms of changes such as hibernation which is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms, or atrophy which is the wasting away of a part of the body due to underuse or neglect.
Acclimatization is not passed on to offspring but rather is a temporary adjustment made by an organism in response to its environment.