hibernaatio

Hibernaatio is a biological state of extended dormancy characterized by substantial reductions in metabolic rate and energy use, enabling survival in harsh environmental conditions. The term is used especially in Finnish-language biology to refer to hibernation, while in English the term hibernation is more common.

Hibernaatio typically involves multiple phases, including periods of torpor (low metabolic state) and occasional arousals to normothermic activity. Body temperature may drop toward ambient, heart rate and respiration slow, and energy is drawn from fat stores. The duration ranges from weeks to months, depending on species and conditions.

Animals that undergo hibernaatio include small mammals such as ground squirrels, dormice, bats, and some insectivores. Larger mammals like bears are sometimes described as hibernators too, though their physiological state is less extreme and they maintain higher body temperatures.

Scientific interest centers on mechanisms regulating metabolic suppression and arousal, with potential applications in medicine and space travel. Researchers explore endocrine signals, neural circuits, and genetic control. Ethical and ecological considerations exist, including animal welfare and environmental impacts on natural hibernation cycles.

Related concepts include torpor, estivation, and diapause.