One of the best ways animals deal with winter is through the process of metabolic suppression, otherwise known as dormancy. Large animals such as bears hibernate during the winter to survive the winter months. This process allows many species to conserve energy when food is scarce. The process of hibernation involves far more than merely sleeping. During hibernation, blood vessels will constrict, respiratory rates will decrease and the body core temperature of animals will drop by 10 degrees.
Discover the secrets of metabolic suppression on this week's Nature Notes.
