Aestivation
Aestivation (pronounced: es-ti-va-tion, from Latin: aestīvāre, "to spend the summer") is 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. It takes place during times of heat and dryness, the hot dry season, which are often the summer months.
In addition to helping animals survive hot and/or dry periods, aestivation also helps to reduce the need for food and water. Aestivation is most commonly practiced by animals living in desert environments, including reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
Etymology
The term "aestivation" is derived from the Latin "aestīvāre", meaning "to spend the summer". This term is used to describe the state of dormancy that many desert animals enter into during the hottest and driest periods of the year.
Mechanisms
During aestivation, animals slow their metabolic rate and reduce their activity levels in order to conserve energy and water. This is achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including reducing body temperature, slowing heart rate, and decreasing respiration rate. Some animals may also burrow into the ground or find other cool, dark places to rest.
Examples
Examples of animals that aestivate include the African lungfish, which burrows into the mud when its water source dries up, and the fat-tailed dwarf lemur, which aestivates in tree holes during the dry season in Madagascar. Some snails and insects also aestivate, often by sealing themselves off from the outside world with a layer of mucus that hardens into a protective shell.
Related Terms
- Hibernation: A state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms during winter.
- Torpor: A state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually characterized by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate.
- Brumation: A term used for the cold-weather dormancy of reptiles.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Aestivation
- Wikipedia's article - Aestivation
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