sleepy ape winternight (seasonal hibernation)
Hibernation is a survival strategy that can be very successful in environments in which food is scarce or just difficult to find during a long, cold winter season. Dropping into deep hibernation or into a torpid state allows the animal to use their body's energy reserves at a slower rate than they would if they were maintaining themselves at their typical basal metabolic rate. Some ecologists refer to hibernation as "time migration". Hibernation allows the animal to skip over the cold, stressful seasons and only expend itself fully in those months of abundant food and moderate climatic conditions. A major disadvantage to hibernation, though, is that the hibernating animal is quite defenseless when it is in a deep hibernative or even torpid state. A very secure hibernating den (the "hibernaculum") is needed to protect the inactive animal.
sleepy ape winternight (seasonal hibernation)
Hibernation is a survival strategy that can be very successful in environments in which food is scarce or just difficult to find during a long, cold winter season. Dropping into deep hibernation or into a torpid state allows the animal to use their body's energy reserves at a slower rate than they would if they were maintaining themselves at their typical basal metabolic rate. Some ecologists refer to hibernation as "time migration". Hibernation allows the animal to skip over the cold, stressful seasons and only expend itself fully in those months of abundant food and moderate climatic conditions. A major disadvantage to hibernation, though, is that the hibernating animal is quite defenseless when it is in a deep hibernative or even torpid state. A very secure hibernating den (the "hibernaculum") is needed to protect the inactive animal.