The time is right to talk
iSCIENCE
wEiRD
HIBERNATION!
q
a✸✸
Which animals hibernate in Britain?
Surprisingly✸only✸three✸types✸of✸British✸
mammal✸hibernate;✸bats,✸dormice✸and✸
hedgehogs.✸However,✸many✸insects,✸
butterflies✸and✸bees✸hibernate,✸as✸do✸all✸
British✸reptiles✸and✸amphibians.
Challenge
Why✸these?✸Is✸there✸a✸clue✸in✸
their✸size,✸diet✸or✸habitat?✸
q
a✸✸
Isn’t hibernation the same as sleeping
for ages?
No.✸Badgers✸and✸squirrels✸can✸deep-sleep✸
through✸cold✸spells,✸but✸truly✸hibernating✸
animals✸are✸aff✸ected✸by✸changes✸in✸
hormones✸and✸daylight.✸They✸oft✸en✸fattenup✸first✸before✸dramatically✸slowing✸down,✸
maybe✸only✸breathing✸once✸a✸minute!✸An✸
active✸hedgehog’s✸heart✸pumps✸at✸180✸to✸280✸
beats✸per✸minute✸(bpm)✸-✸but✸in✸hibernation✸
this✸drops✸to✸around✸5✸to✸20✸bpm!✸
Challenge What✸is✸the✸diff✸erence✸
between✸torpor✸and✸hibernation?
q
a✸✸
a✸✸
What happens when my computer says
‘hibernate’ or ‘SLEEP’?
Like✸in✸animals,✸both✸of✸these✸states✸
save✸lots✸of✸energy✸and✸can✸be✸woken✸
from✸quickly✸but✸not✸immediately!✸‘Sleep’✸
switches✸off✸✸everything✸apart✸from✸working✸
memory✸(RAM).✸‘Hibernate’✸saves✸the✸
contents✸of✸RAM✸to✸hard✸disk,✸then✸actually✸
shuts✸down✸and✸uses✸no✸mo ɗ