What is the term that describes a tree's adjustment to changes in its environment over time?

The term that describes a tree's adjustment to changes in its environment over time is "acclimation." Acclimation refers specifically to the process by which an organism adjusts to gradual changes in its environment, allowing it to maintain performance across a range of conditions. In the context of trees, this can involve modifications in physiological processes, such as changes in leaf structure, stomatal density, or metabolic adjustments, which help the tree survive and thrive despite varying temperatures, moisture levels, or light availability.

While adaptation generally refers to long-term evolutionary changes within a species that enhance survival and reproduction in specific environments, acclimation is more about the immediate physiological adjustments an individual plant can make in response to changing conditions. Resilience refers to the capacity of an ecosystem or community to withstand disturbances and still maintain its essential functions, which is not the same as the adjustments made by a single tree. Hybridization involves the cross-breeding of different species or varieties, which does not pertain to environmental adjustments. Therefore, acclimation is the most accurate term to describe the process of a tree adjusting to its changing environment over time.