Physiology Research
Global Warming
Recently, there has been an increasing trend in warmer more mild winters. This change in climate has lead to several species of hibernating animals awakening from hibernation early. countries from all around the world have reported abnormal hibernation patterns in several species of animals. Yellow bellied marmots are reported to emerge 38 days earlier, and dormice are emerging 5 weeks earlier than they did 20 years ago. In Spain it is reported that European Brown Bears have stopped hibernating completely in the Northern Cantabrian Mountains. Not only has the warmer weather lead to many animals hibernating for less time, but it has also lead to hedgehogs in England to give birth to litters later on in the year. This is very bad for the hedgehogs, since the babies were born later on in the breeding season they do not have enough fat reserves to survive the winter and end up suffering higher mortality rates in their young.
This shift in hibernation periods could potentially be very bad for these hibernating animals. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy during long periods of cold weather and unavailability of food. The disruption of these hibernation periods and abnormal activity could potentially cause these animals to use up the much needed energy reserves thus decreasing their chance for survival.
Recently, there has been an increasing trend in warmer more mild winters. This change in climate has lead to several species of hibernating animals awakening from hibernation early. countries from all around the world have reported abnormal hibernation patterns in several species of animals. Yellow bellied marmots are reported to emerge 38 days earlier, and dormice are emerging 5 weeks earlier than they did 20 years ago. In Spain it is reported that European Brown Bears have stopped hibernating completely in the Northern Cantabrian Mountains. Not only has the warmer weather lead to many animals hibernating for less time, but it has also lead to hedgehogs in England to give birth to litters later on in the year. This is very bad for the hedgehogs, since the babies were born later on in the breeding season they do not have enough fat reserves to survive the winter and end up suffering higher mortality rates in their young.
This shift in hibernation periods could potentially be very bad for these hibernating animals. Hibernation allows animals to conserve energy during long periods of cold weather and unavailability of food. The disruption of these hibernation periods and abnormal activity could potentially cause these animals to use up the much needed energy reserves thus decreasing their chance for survival.
Mystery Behind Hibernation
The great mystery behind hibernation revolves around the question why some animals hibernate while others do not. The theory that animals hibernate as an adaptation to cold weather is the most supported. Dr. Craig Frank, an associate professor of biology and a mammalian ecologist who had been studying hibernation patterns in chipmunks since 2000 discovered that during extreme cold winters, chipmunks would lower their body temperatures to almost that of their surroundings and go into a state of torpor. In 2007 however, the warmest winter was recorded and only 11% of the chipmunks he was following had entered hibernation while others either hibernated for a shorter period or did not go into hibernation at all.
The great mystery behind hibernation revolves around the question why some animals hibernate while others do not. The theory that animals hibernate as an adaptation to cold weather is the most supported. Dr. Craig Frank, an associate professor of biology and a mammalian ecologist who had been studying hibernation patterns in chipmunks since 2000 discovered that during extreme cold winters, chipmunks would lower their body temperatures to almost that of their surroundings and go into a state of torpor. In 2007 however, the warmest winter was recorded and only 11% of the chipmunks he was following had entered hibernation while others either hibernated for a shorter period or did not go into hibernation at all.