Biological status of Jastarnia, Szczawnica and Krościenko populations as an effect of adaptation to seaside and low mountain conditions.

Abstract

The material consists of the families from Krościenko and Szczawnica examined in 1983 (309 men and 256 women) and of the families from Jastarnia examined in 1987 (163 men and 192 women). In addition to 43 biological traits (somatic, physiological, and psychomotor), also socio-economic conditions of families were analyzed, along with basic demographic data for the study areas. It has been found that migrations of people and marital radius were higher in Jastarnia than in Pieniny, and at the same time infant mortality was higher in Jastarnia, although living conditions were better there (more rooms and more opportunities for additional income). Children and youth of both areas were characterized by a medium-strong body build. Stature, body weight, and adipose tissue were higher in Jastarnia than in Pieniny. Moreover, the inhabitants of Pieniny were europrosopus and hyperbrachycephalic, whereas the inhabitants of the seaside areas were leptoprosopic and brachycephalic. The vascular-respiratory system of the seaside population was characterized by lower mean hemoglobin concentrations and hematocrit index as compared with those in the low-mountain population. Most of the respiratory traits (VC, Ap, VE, MVV, FEV1), however, were higher in Jastarnia, only the frequency of respiration (f) being higher in Pieniny. A comparison of psychomotor traits showed no difference in the static strength and muscular explosive power between the two populations, but agility traits were higher in Jastarnia, whereas the body balance and musculatory endurance were better in the Pieniny population.