AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Hibernation is a state of greatly reduced body activity, used to conserve food stored in the body. Some animals hibernate for part or all of the winter. The animal’s body temperature drops, its heartbeat and breathing slow down, and it uses very little energy.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hibernation is a way animals conserve energy to survive adverse weather conditions or lack of food. It involves physiological changes such as a drop in body temperature and slowed metabolism. Research into the processes involved in hibernation could result in medical benefits for people.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hibernating animals slow their metabolisms, cooling their bodies by 5° to 10°C (9° to 18°F). Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) can take this much further, cooling their bodies to subfreezing temperatures.

Detailed explanation-4: -Torpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables animals to survive periods of reduced food availability.

Detailed explanation-5: -The 4 stages in the torpor-arousal cycle, early arousal (EA), late arousal (LA), early torpor (ET), late torpor (LT), during hibernation in a telemetrized animal.