What Are the Main Differences Between Aestivation and Hibernation?
Aestivation is a natural state of animal dormancy, almost similar to hibernation state, but it takes place in the summer rather than during the winter. Aestivation is characterized and observed by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate with a low percentage of hunting which is a stage entered in response to high temperatures and dry conditions.
On the other hand, though it is another term there is not much difference between them both. Hibernation is also a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression that prevails amongst animals. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body temperature, slow breathing and heart rate, and low metabolic rate. It most commonly occurs during the winter months.
Hibernation is not just sleeping as you do on other normal days. When sleeping, it is found that the brain is resting for a larger part of the time than in any other state. Hibernation is defined as a sustained long period of a prevailing body temperature, metabolism, and a drop in breathing rate. It is essentially also known as almost close to a coma-like state that can't be woken up from easily. This state will highly increase your temperature and will stop your hunger feels more than any other normal day.
Biology is a subject which is classified into Botany which deals with plants and their properties and Zoology which covers all details of other living beings on earth, their living and eating habits. This is a subject that will highly help students in learning and understanding the ecosystem. Usually, students think that Biology is really a tough & vast subject with a huge syllabus structure. But the reality is that Biology is a very scoring and easy subject. If you plan the syllabus well and study all the concepts in every chapter by practicing the diagrams and equations in a separate note, you can easily revise them before your exams.
More About Aestivation and Hibernation
Animals opt for different resting pattern based on the climate and their stage of life. They actively choose this to conserve their energy, primarily during harsh and extreme weather. This sleeping pattern is divided into two subtypes, hibernation and aestivation.
Hibernation happens during the winter season. Here animals stay in dormant condition during low temperature. On the other hand, aestivation occurs during the summer season. During high temperature, animals stay inactive to save energy.
What is Hibernation?
Hibernation Definition qualifies it as a state of sleep or inactivity noted in endotherms. This process is also known as winter sleep, as it occurs during the winter or low-temperature season. Furthermore, slow breathing and heart rate characterise this state, which results in a low metabolic rate.
Among the list of animals that hibernate, rodents are considered as the deepest hibernators. Other than that, birds, insects, fishes, and mammals also undergo hibernation at different points.
Some of the hibernate animals names are bats, bear, turtles, fishes, rats, etc.
To define hibernation further, the primary purpose of an animal to select this state is to conserve their energy and save themselves from starvation during harsh weather. However, hibernation can differ based on four points, these are –
The species.
The time of the year.
Type of animal.
Tolerance power of that species.
Furthermore, hibernation can last for different time-period; it can be days, weeks, or months. However, before going into this dormant state, animals store energy and necessary food to sustain the period.
What is Aestivation?
Aestivation definition mentions that it is also a state of sleep, but it occurs in a different time. Animals go through this period during summer or hot-temperature season. Primarily, animals in the tropical region or desert areas opt for this technique for their survival.
Aestivation meaning shows that it takes place during the summer or dry season and extreme heat. Both vertebrates and invertebrates undergo this process to save themselves from high temperature and the risk of desiccation. Similar to hibernation, animals opt for this process to save energy and retain water in their body.
Moreover, aestivation examples primarily include reptiles and amphibians. However, an interesting example of this process is lungfish. It is capable of surviving in this condition for up to three years.
Additionally, aestivation in plants is also present, such as guava.
Difference between Hibernation and Aestivation
Here is some significant difference between hibernation and aestivation –
Time of occurrence
The dormant state of hibernation is witnessed in animals during the winter season. Therefore, it is called winter sleep. On the other hand, the inactive state of aestivation occurs during the summer. Thus, it is called summer sleep.
Duration
Typically, animals stay in the state of hibernation for the entire winter season. It is primarily due to the harsh and cold weather. For instance, fishes go to deep water during this period to save themselves from freezing.
However, aestivation can be of short and long duration. During this inactive state, the energy consumption in animals reduces by 70-90times compared to their active state.
Resting place
During hibernation and aestivation, animals look for two completely different places to stay protected. In hibernation, they look for warm and cosy places, so that they can stay warm. In contrast, during aestivation animal searches for cool and moist places.
Importance
Hibernation and aestivation have similar importance; they save animals from harsh weather conditions. Hibernation allows animals to stay indoors and protect themselves from freezing outside. Similarly, aestivation enables animals to remain indoors and save themselves from water loss and sustain the harsh season.
Hibernation and aestivation are two similar processes, and their purpose is to protect animals from harsh weather. If you wish to learn more about these topics, or of any other chapter of biology, you can download the Vedantu app to access more study materials. Moreover, you can also attend our online interactive live classes via this app,
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FAQs on Aestivation vs Hibernation: Understanding the Biological Differences
1. What is the fundamental difference between aestivation and hibernation?
The fundamental difference lies in the seasonal trigger. Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals during the winter to conserve energy and survive the cold. In contrast, aestivation, often called 'summer sleep', is a similar state of dormancy that occurs during periods of intense heat and drought in the summer.
2. What physiological changes occur in an animal's body during hibernation?
During hibernation, an animal undergoes significant physiological changes to conserve energy. These include:
- A drastic lowering of the metabolic rate, sometimes to less than 5% of the normal rate.
- A significant drop in body temperature, often to near ambient levels.
- A slowed heart rate and breathing rate.
3. What are some examples of animals that hibernate and animals that aestivate?
The type of dormancy an animal undergoes is typically linked to its environment and physiology.
- Hibernation Examples: This is common in mammals living in cold climates, such as bears, groundhogs, bats, and squirrels.
- Aestivation Examples: This is common in ectotherms (cold-blooded animals) and invertebrates in hot, arid regions. Examples include lungfish, crocodiles, desert tortoises, snails, and some species of frogs and salamanders.
4. How is aestivation a survival strategy against heat and drought?
Aestivation is a crucial adaptation for surviving extreme heat and lack of water. By entering a dormant state, often in a cool, moist burrow underground, an animal primarily aims to prevent dehydration and overheating. Lowering its metabolic rate reduces water loss from respiration and helps it survive until cooler, wetter conditions return.
5. How does hibernation differ from regular sleep?
While both are resting states, they are very different. Regular sleep is a light state of rest from which an animal can be easily awakened. Its metabolic rate only drops slightly. Hibernation is a much deeper, long-term state of torpor. The animal's body temperature and metabolic rate plummet, and it is very difficult to arouse. Waking from hibernation is a slow, complex, and energy-intensive process.
6. What is the difference between dormancy, hibernation, and aestivation?
Dormancy is the broad, general term for any period in an organism's life cycle where growth, development, and physical activity are temporarily stopped to conserve energy. Hibernation (winter dormancy) and aestivation (summer dormancy) are two specific, prolonged types of dormancy triggered by seasonal changes. Other forms, like daily torpor in hummingbirds, are much shorter.
7. Can an animal like a frog undergo both hibernation and aestivation?
Yes, some animals, particularly amphibians like frogs, can exhibit both behaviours depending on their habitat. A frog living in a temperate climate with cold winters and hot summers might hibernate in the mud at the bottom of a pond to survive freezing temperatures. The same frog could then aestivate by burrowing into cool, damp soil to escape a severe summer drought.
