Final answer:
Animal dormancy includes estivation and hibernation, allowing animals to survive extreme conditions by slowing their metabolism. Estivation helps animals conserve water and energy during hot, dry periods, while hibernation enables survival in cold conditions through energy conservation. Torpor is a shorter, often daily, period of reduced activity to save energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Animal Dormancy
Animal dormancy refers to the state in which animals undergo a period of reduced activity and metabolism to survive extreme environmental conditions. One form of dormancy is estivation, which occurs during hot and dry periods, primarily to conserve water and reduce metabolic demands. During estivation, animals like lizards may exhibit behaviors such as seeking shelter, remaining inactive, and significantly reducing their metabolic rate to conserve energy and minimize water loss. This process is crucial for surviving periods of high temperatures and scarce water resources.
Another form of dormancy is hibernation, which is a prolonged state of torpor that allows animals to survive cold conditions by slowing down their bodily functions and conserving energy. Hibernation is commonly associated with animals such as bears, bats, and squirrels. Certain amphibians like the wood frog use special antifreeze-like chemicals to prevent cell damage during this period.
Torpor is a temporary state of decreased physiological activity in animals, usually with a reduced body temperature and metabolism. It can be employed on a daily basis, especially in small mammals and birds such as bats and hummingbirds, to conserve energy during times when it is less efficient to forage for food, such as the colder nighttime hours.