Autumn is a golden time. All nature begins to prepare for a long sleep: the trees begin to dump their lush foliage, the water is covered with a thin layer of ice, protecting their inhabitants, the animals carefully prepare food supplies for the cold, and some are going to sleep for several months.
Of course, everyone is familiar from childhood with the methods of preparing animals for winter. But is it really that simple? Nature has created unique devices for birds and animals so that they can survive in harsh conditions.
For example, the capercaillie swallows small pebbles to grind solid food in the winter (for example, cone seeds). A chipmunk is able to transfer up to 10 kg of grain and nuts in cheek bags to its mink. What can we say about such an amazing phenomenon as hibernation of animals.
What is it and why do they fall into it?
Hibernation is the body's reaction to temperature changes, in other words, it is a way of survival, characterized in lowering body temperature and reducing heart rate.
When preparing for sleep, animals stock up on fat and prepare a shelter that is well protected from predators. During hibernation, the body temperature of the animal may drop by 10 times its ordinary. So, for example, Sonya has a half (it's a small rodent), the temperature drops from 38 degrees to 3.7. The heart slows down to 3 - 5 beats per minute, and in California gophers it can even go down to one beat. Breathing is reduced by 10 times.In general, all body activity is minimized.
Hibernation in cold-blooded (snakes, frogs, lizards)
The most amazing preparation for hibernation occurs in cold-blooded. When the body cools, ice forms in their organs. This is very strange, because the animal can die from dehydration, or burst from ice penetrating them. However, the American forest frog does an excellent job of this: it fills its body with glycogen, which guarantees the preservation of organs. In the spring, the frog simply thaws and spends glucose (which is obtained from glycogen) into energy. But some amphibians survive the winter at the bottom of ponds, burying themselves in or breathing with the skin.
Interesting fact: snakes, turtles, lizards and frogs can be hibernated independently. You just need to lower the temperature and change the light mode.
Hibernation of arctic earthen squirrel, meadow dog and bear
But the hibernation of earthen squirrel, meadow dog and bear are not considered as hibernation. You can call it a "nap," because they can be easily woken up. Yes, all the vital activity of their body also slows down, but at the level of ordinary sleep. It is clear that fat and food reserves are the key to the survival of these animals during hibernation. A bear can consume up to 20,000 calories in one day and accumulate about 15 cm of fat over the summer. It would seem that it can disturb him in the winter?
For example, the appearance of cubs and care for them. Ground squirrels are probably afraid to oversleep spring. They wake up to touch the earthen cork, which closes the entrance to the hole, in order to determine whether the spring has come by the temperature of the cork.
What are the pros and cons of hibernation?
Pros: of course, reduced energy costs.Animals could not survive awake in the absence of sources of replenishment of energy (i.e. food). Thus, they can spend 4-7 months in a dream due to reserves of fat and nutrients. Cons: decreased immunity, the ability to die from exhaustion and dehydration, muscle atrophy, and of course, no one has canceled predators.
Naturally, hibernation of animals is studied not in vain. Having the ability to isolate those chemicals that introduce mammals into hibernation, they could be used in surgery for some operations.
