Final answer:
Environmental change can alter gland secretions by disrupting hormone release, changing cellular communication, affecting nutrient availability, or influencing oxygen intake. Glands respond adaptively, ensuring the maintenance of homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
An environmental change can result in the alteration of gland secretion in various ways. One such way is through disruption in the hormone release pattern, where glands adapt to new stimuli (option a). This can happen when a receptor detects a change, and sends a signal to the control center, which in turn sends a signal to the gland to inhibit the gland secretions.
Another way environmental change can affect gland secretion is by altering cellular communication. Glands then modify their secretions in response to changes in chemical signals, neural stimulation, or through feedback mechanisms (options b and d). For example, a neural stimulus may prompt the secretion or inhibition of a hormone.
Environmental changes could also affect nutrient availability or oxygen intake, prompting glands to adjust metabolic rates or hormone production (option c and d). For instance, the adrenal glands respond to stress by regulating the secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, while the thyroid gland alters its production of thyroid hormones to regulate metabolic rates. The coordination between the nervous system and the endocrine system is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and adaptively responding to changes in the environment.