Question

What is winter sleep? Mention the changes in physiology and behaviour which help heterothermic mammals overcome severe winter.

Answer 1

Answer:

Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms. Hibernation refers to a season of heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. It most commonly occurs during winter months.

Although traditionally reserved for "deep" hibernators such as rodents, the term has been redefined to include animals such as bears[1] and is now applied based on active metabolic suppression rather than any absolute decline in body temperature. Many experts believe that the processes of daily torpor and hibernation form a continuum and utilize similar mechanisms.[2][3] The equivalent during the summer months is aestivation.

Hibernation functions to conserve energy when sufficient food is unavailable. To achieve this energy saving, an endothermic animal decreases its metabolic rate and thereby its body temperature.[3] Hibernation may last days, weeks, or months - depending on the species, ambient temperature, time of year, and the individual's body-condition. Before entering hibernation, animals need to store enough energy to last through the duration of their dormant period, possibly as long as an entire winter. Larger species become hyperphagic, eating a large amount of food and storing the energy in fat deposits. In many small species, food caching repla

Explanation:

Answer 2

Winter Sleep

Explanation:

• Winter sleep is also known as Hibernation. During winters when animals are in the state of inactivity and perform a low metabolic process. This condition is known as Hibernation or Winter Sleep.
• Winter sleep is the feature of certain mammals such as the hamster, badger, raccoon and bear.
• Winter sleep animal accumulate fat in their body  and move into the burrows, during the period of winter sleep these animals do not eat.

• Hibernation or Winter sleep is characterized by slow breathing ,heart-rate, low metabolic rate and low body temperature.