Final answer:
The substance used for insulation and long-term energy storage by cold-climate animals is a type of lipid, specifically triglycerides in adipose tissues. Chitin is similar but makes up the cell walls in animals and is different from the structural polymer cellulose found in plants. Animals use ATP for immediate energy needs and store excess energy as triglycerides or glycogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The substance that is used for insulation by animals in cold climates, as well as for long-term energy storage, is likely a type of lipid. Specifically, this refers to triglycerides stored in adipose tissues which act as insulation and a form of energy reserve. A similar molecule that makes up cell walls in animals is chitin, which, while structurally different from triglycerides, is also a long-chain polymer like cellulose, which is found in plant cell walls. Animal bioenergetics involve converting ingested nutrients to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for short-term energy use, while storing excess energy as glycogen or triglycerides for later use.
Animals in cold climates may rely on a thick layer of fat, or adipose tissue, to insulate themselves against the cold, which simultaneously serves as a reservoir for long-term energy needs. The presence of insulation such as fat is a characteristic of endothermic, or warm-blooded, animals who maintain their body temperature irrespective of the environment. This is in contrast to ectothermic animals that require environmental heat to regulate their body temperature.