Hypothermia
Many animals will induce hypothermia during their
hibernation or torpor (covered in other pages of the web-site), in these states
the metabolic and physiological processes slow down, the cells need four oxygen
particularly neurons is greatly reduced, the circulation of the animals can
stop for long periods of time, the normal temperature is lost but the will
continue to survive if external heat e.g. spring environmental temperature
increases and there temperature returns to normal (Dr. J. S. Tuli B.V.Sc., n.d.)
The behaviour of hypothermic animal is shivering taking place primarily in the muscles additionally brown fat non-shivering takes place, not in the O2 sensitive organs, heart and brain, for prolonged hypothermia an impairment of the immune system responses. (Wood SC1, 1996). many birds will display nocturnal hypothermia. their body temperature will drop to 3-5oC over night, and their metabolisms will reduce to about half of the day time activity rate.
The behaviour of hypothermic animal is shivering taking place primarily in the muscles additionally brown fat non-shivering takes place, not in the O2 sensitive organs, heart and brain, for prolonged hypothermia an impairment of the immune system responses. (Wood SC1, 1996). many birds will display nocturnal hypothermia. their body temperature will drop to 3-5oC over night, and their metabolisms will reduce to about half of the day time activity rate.