Dormancy
Dormancy
Dormancy (/ˈdɔːrmənsi/) is a period in an organism's life cycle when growth, development, and (in animals) physical activity are temporarily stopped. This minimizes metabolic activity and therefore helps an organism to conserve energy. Dormancy tends to be closely associated with environmental conditions.
Etymology
The term "dormancy" is derived from the Latin word "dormire" which means "to sleep".
Types of Dormancy
There are several types of dormancy, including:
- Diapause: a type of dormancy in insects that is often associated with a period of reduced activity in winter.
- Hibernation: a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms.
- Aestivation: a state of animal dormancy, similar to hibernation, characterized by inactivity and a lowered metabolic rate, that is entered in response to high temperatures and arid conditions.
- Seed dormancy: a form of delayed seed germination.
Related Terms
- Metabolism: the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
- Endotherm: an organism that is internally warmed by a heat-generating metabolic process.
- Germination: the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dormancy
- Wikipedia's article - Dormancy
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