Difference Between Hibernation and Aestivation
Animals have different strategies to survive in extreme environmental conditions. Two common strategies observed in animals are hibernation and aestivation. Both hibernation and aestivation are physiological adaptations that allow animals to conserve energy during unfavorable environmental conditions. Let’s explore the differences between hibernation and aestivation in this SEO article.
What is Hibernation?
Hibernation is a state of reduced activity and metabolic rate that animals enter during the winter months. During hibernation, animals slow down their bodily functions, lower their heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature to conserve energy. Hibernating animals usually go without food or water for long periods of time. They rely on their fat stores to provide energy. Animals that hibernate include bats, bears, and groundhogs.
What is Aestivation?
Aestivation is a state of reduced activity and metabolic rate that animals enter during summer months when high temperatures and dry conditions prevailed. During aestivation, animals reduce their metabolic rate and conserve energy by remaining inactive during hot and dry months. Aestivating animals also go without water for long periods of time, and their tissues become dehydrated. Aestivation is common in fish, snails, and other invertebrates who burrow in the soil or mud for extended periods of time.
Differences between Hibernation and Aestivation
The key differences between hibernation and aestivation are summarized below:
1. Timing: Hibernation is observed during the winter months while aestivation occurs in the summer.
2. Reason: Hibernation is a response to cold weather and lack of food, while aestivation is a response to hot and dry weather.
3. Metabolic Rate: During hibernation, animals lower their heart rate, breathing rate, and body temperature significantly, while in aestivation, they reduce their metabolic rate but not as much as in hibernation.
4. Food and Water: Hibernating animals can go without food and water for extended periods of time, while aestivating animals may need some access to water to survive.
5. Tissue Dehydration: In aestivation, animals’ tissues get dehydrated, while in hibernation, tissues do not get dehydrated.
In conclusion, hibernation and aestivation are two distinct physiological adaptations that animals use to survive during extreme environmental conditions. While hibernation occurs during the winter when cold weather and lack of food prevail, aestivation occurs during the summer when high temperatures and dry weather prevail. Understanding these differences can help us appreciate the remarkable adaptations of animals and how they allow them to survive in harsh environments.
Table difference between hibernation and aestivation
| Characteristics | Hibernation | Aestivation |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A state of inactivity or dormancy during winter or in cold conditions | A state of inactivity or dormancy during summer or in hot and dry conditions |
| Occurrence | Occurs in winter or in cold conditions | Occurs in summer or in hot and dry conditions |
| Body temperature | Body temperature is significantly lowered (up to 95% reduction) | Body temperature is lowered (up to 50% reduction) |
| Duration | Can last for several months | Can last for several weeks |
| Animals | Occur in animals such as bears, hedgehogs, and bats | Occur in animals such as snails, tortoises, and lungfish |
| Adaptations | Animals store food and fat in preparation, slow down metabolism, and reduce heart rate and respiration. | Animals burrow underground, produce a cocoon, or aestivate in moist mud or under rocks to conserve water. |