Well most of us are already aware of hibernation, what do you think hibernation is...... just a long ----- sometimes really long sleep? Well, not exactly. In fact, many animals periodically ‘wake up' from hibernation, and one reason they do so may be to catch up on some slow-wave sleep.
So if hibernation isn’t sleep, exactly, then what is it? And why do some animals hibernate? Do they just prefer to spend winter tucked under the doona? Do they detest winter sports? Or are they just lazy? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Hibernation is a way for many creatures – from butterflies to bats – to survive cold, dark winters without having to forage for food or migrate to somewhere warmer. Instead, they turn down their metabolisms to save energy.
Animals in hot climates also undergo a form of hibernation called aestivation. This works in a similar way and enables them to survive extreme heat, drought or lack of food.
Hibernating is much more profound than simply sleeping, though. Depending on the species, it can vary from long, deep unconsciousness to light spells of inactivity.
But hibernation carries risks as the dormant animal is vulnerable to predators and the unpredictable climate.
HIBERNATION
Which animals hibernate? Small mammals, such as chipmunks, dormice, hamsters, hedgehogs, and bats. Also, many insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
How does it work? A hibernating animal’s metabolism slows and its temperature plunges – in ground squirrels it can fall to -2°C. Breathing slows and, in bats, the heart rate can fall from 400 to 11 beats per minute. Some cold-blooded animals, such as wood frogs, produce natural antifreezes to survive being frozen solid.
How do they prepare? Mammals feed heavily in summer and autumn, storing fat to see them through the winter.
What are the dangers? Animals may die during hibernation from lack of fat, severe weather or premature awakening.
What is aestivation? This is the equivalent process to hibernation, but for animals in hot climates that are trying to escape extreme heat or drought.
Which animals aestivate? Many terrestrial and aquatic animals, including lungfish, earthworms, snails, amphibians and reptiles, including Nile crocodiles.
How does it work? Most animals bury themselves in the ground, which protects them from the heat. Here, they wait for the wet season or cooler temperatures. Some land snails climb trees to escape the heat of the ground, sealing themselves into their shells using dried mucus.
What are the dangers? Large numbers of aestivating animals perish in periods of prolonged drought.
TORPOR
What is torpor? It is a brief bout of suspended animation, usually lasting less than a day, when an animal’s breathing, heartbeat, body temperature and metabolism are reduced.
How does it work? Torpor conserves energy in the short term and often helps the animal survive a brief bout of poor conditions, such as cold nights.
Which animals enter torpor? Birds such as hummingbirds and frogmouths, or small mammals such as bats, can go into torpor every day.
What are the dangers? One of the problems with torpor is that the animals are too sluggish to react to predators. And, if the cold spell is unusually long, the animal may die if its body temperature drops too low.
DENNING
What is denning? This is a light form of dormancy typical of bears, where the animal is groggy, but easily roused.
How does it work? A bear’s body temperature only drops a few degrees, but it loses up to 40 percent of its body weight – more than true hibernators. Amazingly, many female bears give birth and suckle young while denning.
What is denning? This is a light form of dormancy typical of bears, where the animal is groggy, but easily roused.
How do they prepare? Bears eat a lot of high-energy food to build-up fat reserves that will last all winter.
What are the dangers? Bears can be woken easily during a mild spell of weather, but may not have enough energy to survive the rest of the winter.
How might hibernation help humans? Some other areas of research include:
- the ability of hibernators’ cells and tissues to survive very cold temperatures, an understanding of which could enable us better preserve and transport human tissues (for instance, for transplantation)
- the fact that hibernating animals don’t experience muscle deterioration after long periods of not moving, which could potentially help us prevent muscle deterioration due to hospital bedrest or to treat muscle disorders
- the lack of bone deterioration in hibernating animals , even after long sedentary periods, an understanding of which could lead to new ways of treating degenerative bone problems or diseases.
Well, now we know that hibernating doesn't mean to sleep!! That is it for this week have a safe and sound week ahead!!!
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