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Some animals chose certain adaptations to thrive in extreme conditions as well. Aestivation and Hibernation is one of them. Hibernation is winter sleep whereas aestivation denotes summer sleep. This sleep is different from the normal sleep on other days. During both periods of sleep, the animals chose to have low metabolic activity to restore their body temperature and their energy as well. These adaptations can be seen generally in all animals. The main motive of hibernation is the conservation of energy and regulation of body temperature and survival in extreme conditions.
What is hibernation?
The term hibernation is defined as a state of inactivity or state that is mainly visible in the endotherms. This phenomenon is known as winter sleep as it occurs mainly in the winter season in which the organisms perform slow breathing and heart rate with low metabolic rate. Mostly the hibernators are rodents. Others are birds, insects, mammals, and fishes. Some states of inactivity or sleep undergoing hibernation are bats, turtles, fishes, rats, and bears. The main motive of hibernation is the conservation of energy and regulation of body temperature and survival in extreme conditions. The sleep can last from weeks to months varying on certain aspects like type of animal species, tolerance power, and time of the year.
What is aestivation?
The term aestivation describes the state of inactivity or sleep during summer, in hot temperatures. Mainly, the animals of the desert region and tropic regions undergo this summer sleep. Both invertebrates and vertebrates show this kind of phenomenon during high temperatures to save their energy. Animals also undergo this kind of sleep to avoid the risk of desiccation as well. Mainly, reptiles and amphibians show aestivation. Sometimes, plants like guava also show aestivation.
Difference between hibernation and aestivation with example
Hibernation and aestivation in insects
Hibernation and aestivation are quite common in the case of insects. Insects living in extreme conditions, to survive in those conditions, undergo hibernation and destination. Hibernation which refers to winter sleep is performed by the insects living in cold climates. On the contrary, aestivation refers to summer sleep and is observed in insects living in desert areas and tropical regions. They undergo hibernation and aestivation to slow down their metabolic activities and restore energy.
Conclusion
Some animals chose certain adaptations to thrive in extreme conditions as well. Aestivation and Hibernation is one of them. Hibernation is winter sleep whereas aestivation denotes summer sleep. This sleep is different from the normal sleep on other days. The term hibernation defines as a state of inactivity or state that is mainly visible in the endotherms. This phenomenon is known as winter sleep as it occurs mainly in the winter season in which the organisms perform slow breathing and heart rate with low metabolic rate. Mostly the hibernators are rodents. The term aestivation describes the state of inactivity or sleep during summer, in hot temperatures. Mainly, the animals of the desert region and tropic regions undergo this summer sleep. Both invertebrates and vertebrates show this kind of phenomenon during high temperature to save their energy.
