Articles tagged with Hibernation
Researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks will study the metabolic changes in hibernating animals to develop new treatments for human health problems. The five-year grant will support research into hibernation-inspired therapies for conditions like muscle loss, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers found four bat lineages that live at least four times longer than other mammals and identified life history features predicting extended life spans. Hibernating bat species in higher latitudes are found to live longer, possibly due to their ability to adjust body temperature.
Scientists discovered queen bumblebees spend most of their time hiding, resting and making short flights after hibernation. This behaviour helps them disperse far from their natal nest, with researchers suggesting creating pollinator-friendly corridors can aid in their survival.
Researchers studied Syrian hamster brain changes during hibernation and found that phosphorylated tau, a protein implicated in AD, is rapidly reversed upon waking. Hibernating animals show high levels of long-chain ceramides, which may help protect neurons from oxidative damage.
A study found that mountaintop removal mining disproportionately alters the habitat of timber rattlesnakes, a docile reptile species. The mining operations destroy ridgelines and habitats, cutting into biodiversity.
Researchers sequenced the first complete Himalayan marmot genome, uncovering genetic mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation and hibernation. The findings also shed light on the immune system's role in protecting against diseases like hepatitis virus.
A new study of disease transmission in bats has quantified unseen interactions that play a crucial role in the spread of disease through populations and between species. The researchers found that infrequent and indirect connections among individuals are far more important in disease transmission than previously thought.
A new study reveals the importance of 'cryptic' connections in disease transmission between species and among individuals. The researchers used fluorescent dust to track the dynamics of disease transmission in bat populations devastated by white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has killed millions of bats in North America.
Researchers found that older dormice delay hibernation and emerge earlier, investing more energy in reproduction. This study confirms life history theory and demonstrates the flexibility of winter dormancy in ensuring a long life with many offspring.
Researchers discuss potential benefits of inducing torpor in humans for spaceflight and medical treatment. Synthetic torpor could protect astronauts from radiation hazards and reduce demands on spacecraft mass.
Research reveals that hibernating rodents evolved adaptations to reduce cold sensation, allowing them to conserve energy during winter. This adaptation enables ground squirrels and Syrian hamsters to survive exposure to extremely low temperatures without feeling stressed.
Researchers identified a potential drug to protect brain cells after ischemic stroke by mimicking the cellular changes of hibernating ground squirrels. The compound, ebselen, boosts SUMOylation and keeps brain cells alive in the absence of oxygen and glucose.
Researchers have uncovered secrets of how bacteria turn off protein biosynthesis to conserve energy and survive under stressful conditions. Hibernating ribosomes, found in Gram-positive bacteria like Staph, help them survive by suppressing translation, making them a potential target for new antibiotics.
A study by Massey University and the USGS found that Indiana bats that warm up together from hibernation have better survival rates against white-nose syndrome. Thermal surveillance cameras revealed that these bats rouse together every night, suggesting group arousals may be associated with disease survival.
The study found that Asiatic black bears prefer high-protein foods over fiber-rich ones due to digestive limitations. The bears' dietary preferences shifted as spring progressed, with a notable increase in ant consumption in June and July.
New research reveals that human-provided food shortens bears' hibernation period by up to 56%, leading to increased interactions with other species and humans. This study has important management implications for bear conservation.
Daily torpor, a hibernation-like state, is influenced by reduced sensitivity of the thermoregulatory system. Researchers developed an individualized system to detect periods of daily torpor and found that reduced sensitivity was the major factor contributing to this phenomenon.
Researchers discover first direct evidence of hoary bats going into torpor, or hibernation, in California's redwood forests. The study suggests that the bats' roosting habitat may be the key to understanding why they hibernate despite being migratory species.
Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna found that high food availability during the active season in summer contributes to a long life. Telomere length at the end of the experiment was directly correlated with food availability, revealing that a full belly rejuvenates the cells.
Researchers found that hibernating pygmy-possums can detect smoke and respond to danger when their body temperatures reach around 24 degrees Celsius. However, at colder temperatures, their reactions are slow and basic. This study has implications for prescribed bushfires in Australia.
A 24-year study of Fowler's Toads has created a model to predict the impact of climate change on animal behavior. The model uses weather records to forecast when toads will emerge from hibernation, revealing that warming temperatures are causing this shift to occur earlier.
Research reveals urban hedgehogs can survive with smaller nightly ranging areas and adjust activity levels to human disturbance. They show similar hibernation patterns to rural populations, highlighting the importance of access to undisturbed habitats for their entire hibernation season.
Researchers discovered novel adaptations in hibernating animals that may help protect organs during surgeries and cardiac arrests. By studying Arctic ground squirrels' ability to survive repeated 'cardiac arrests,' scientists identified key mechanisms for metabolic flexibility, which could lead to improved survival rates and recovery.
Researchers discovered Asian bat species have lower levels of infection and fungal loads compared to North American bats, suggesting host resistance as a possible explanation. This finding provides hope that some declining North American bat species could evolve resistance to the devastating disease.
Researchers found that bears' summer gut microbiota includes microbes that take in more energy from the diet, allowing them to gain fat without impairing glucose metabolism. The study suggests a new potential therapeutic target for obesity management in humans.
Researchers found pygmy slow lorises in Southeast Asia exhibit multiday torpor to conserve energy during food scarcity. This discovery highlights the possibility that hibernation may be used by further primate species beyond Madagascar.
A team studied the proteins and genes that allow squirrels' hearts to stay healthy during winter hibernation, a phenomenon that could help researchers develop better treatments for people with cardiac disease. The study found dozens of proteins and protein signaling pathways that are expressed differently during hibernation.
Researchers found that hibernating bats infected with the white nose fungus exhibited a partial immune response, including acute inflammation and wound healing. However, the influx of white blood cells into infected tissue was missing, which may be related to the unique characteristics of the Pd pathogen.
Researchers found that dormice start hibernation early when beech trees produce few beechnuts, allowing them to survive during mild weather periods. This behavior changes the view on hibernation as a strategy to decrease energy expenditure.
Researchers discovered that a yeast byproduct can inhibit the white-nose syndrome fungus, which has killed millions of bats. The compound, tt-farnesol, is produced by Candida albicans and targets the fungus specifically without disrupting other cave ecosystem components.
Researchers found that hibernating black bears suppress resorption of bone tissue to maintain their skeleton, protecting bones by reducing resorption. This discovery provides insights into how these animals conserve energy and bone mass during long periods of inactivity.
Dwarf lemurs' ability to put their bodies in standby mode, known as torpor, correlates with increased longevity. Hibernating lemurs live up to ten years longer than non-hibernators, staying healthier and reproducing for a longer period.
Researchers developed a model explaining how white-nose syndrome (WNS) kills millions of bats in North America. Bats infected with WNS use more fat and energy, leading to physiologic imbalances that can inhibit normal heart function.
A new study found that the fungus responsible for white-nose syndrome, which causes bat populations to crash, can infect nearly every bat in a colony during hibernation. Bats that survive the winter can clear the infection after they become active again, but this leads to high mortality rates at the end of winter.
Researchers have discovered bacteria that create complex biomineralogical patterns in salt water, enabling them to survive and 'hibernate' when dry. This unique process may help scientists detect signs of life on other planets, such as Mars.
Late-born dormice use power napping to catch up with earlier-born counterparts, achieving similar sizes by winter. This strategy also allows them to conserve energy and water during periods of food scarcity.
Dr. Kelly Drew, a University of Alaska Fairbanks neuroscientist, has been awarded the Sidney A. McNairy, Jr. Mentoring Award for her outstanding work in biomedical research and mentorship. She is recognized for successfully mentoring students from under-represented groups, including those from Alaska Native communities.
Scientists have found a protein called UCP1 that burns energy and produces heat in the body. Activating this protein using fatty acids may lead to a new way of triggering fat burning and could potentially help with weight loss.
Researchers found that fatter dormice increase metabolic rate more frequently and spend more time at normal body temperature during hibernation, minimizing negative effects. This strategy enables dormice to maximize total hibernation time while maximizing survival chances.
Researchers studying hibernating fat-tailed dwarf lemurs found they can go days without deep sleep during winter hibernation. This supports the idea that sleep regulates body temperature and metabolism in humans.
Researchers found that dwarf lemurs experience REM sleep at high temperatures, while ground squirrels do not, suggesting a link between temperature and metabolism. The study confirms that hibernation is not a state of dormancy but rather a unique form of sleep.
Scientists have found that certain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids regulate the cardiac function of hibernating animals, ensuring a regular heartbeat. Hibernators show higher levels of these fatty acids in their heart tissue compared to non-hibernating animals.
Researchers have discovered that two little-known lemur species in Madagascar burrow underground and hibernate for three to seven months. The study suggests that primate hibernation may not be as rare or unique as previously thought, offering insights into the behavior of these close genetic relatives.
Researchers found a unique social structure in a small town where males and females coexist in the same roosts. This arrangement allows females to conserve energy and ensures faster growth of their young. In contrast, lowland areas have female-only childrearing colonies.
A University of Alberta-led research team found that late spring snowfalls are delaying the emergence of Columbian ground squirrels by 10 days, reducing their opportunity to eat and survive. The study shows a 20% decline in adult female survival rates due to this delay.
Researchers found that gregarious bat species will continue to decline due to white-nose syndrome, but changes in social behavior may help the little brown bat persist. In contrast, solitary species like the northern long-eared bat are more susceptible to the disease.
A study led by biologists at UCSC found that gregarious bat species are more likely to decline and potentially go extinct due to white-nose syndrome. In contrast, solitary species like the tri-colored bat have stabilized at low levels. The little brown bat's social behavior has changed, but it may persist at smaller populations.
A novel technique using stable hydrogen isotopes enabled researchers to determine the summer origins of tens of thousands of bats hibernating in three Michigan mines. This could help predict and manage the spread of white-nose syndrome by identifying connected hibernation sites.
Researchers found that hazel dormice exhibit a complex reproductive strategy, with early and late birth peaks, due to hibernation. Early-born juveniles outpace late-born counterparts, while females with higher body mass can invest in early reproduction.
Researchers found that hibernating woodchucks have a higher resistance to cardiac arrhythmias due to their unique calcium handling properties. This insight may suggest new strategies for protecting non-hibernating animals from fatal cardiac arrhythmias induced by hypothermic stresses and myocardial ischemia.
Arctic ground squirrels have adapted to store high levels of anabolic steroids in their muscles, allowing them to burn protein and maintain vital functions during hibernation. This unique mechanism could hold the key to understanding how to mitigate negative effects of testosterone on human health.
A new study tracked wild black bears' heart rates throughout the year, revealing that they experience extreme variations in heart rate during hibernation. Pregnant bears showed increased heart rates as their pregnancy progressed, while mothers exhibited reduced movement after giving birth to prevent accidental harm to their cubs.
Researchers from British Antarctic Survey discovered that copepods use a remarkable transformation of their oily body fluids to adjust buoyancy, similar to whales' 'diver's weight belt'. This adaptation allows copepods to overwinter in deep waters without wasting energy on constant swimming.
Researchers found that alpine marmots increase n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in their cell membranes before hibernation, preparing for low temperatures. This seasonal change is reversed upon hibernation termination and appears to be controlled by an endogenous clock.
Black bears experience large decreases in metabolism during hibernation, with metabolic rates remaining suppressed for several weeks after emergence. This finding has significant implications for potential applications in emergency medicine, such as reducing metabolic demand in patients experiencing stroke or trauma.
Researchers discovered that Alaskan black bears only reduce their body temperatures slightly during hibernation, yet experience a dramatic decline in metabolic activity, slowing to 25% of normal rates. The bears' metabolism remained suppressed for several weeks after emerging from hibernation.
Research on grizzly bears reveals a complex series of changes in their hearts as they hibernate, including the adaptation of a protein called myosin heavy chain. The left atrium produces more alpha protein, resulting in a weaker beat, to prevent damage from pushing against the stiffened ventricle.
A deadly fungus is decimating bat populations across North America, killing over 1 million bats. Researchers are racing to combat the disease, which infects and invades the living skin of hibernating bats, causing frequent arousals from hibernation and potential fat reserves depletion.
A study found that female bears with cubs and independent young bears in the Cantabrian Cordillera do not enter hibernation. In contrast, older bears, including females preparing to give birth, exhibit typical hibernation behavior.
A 17-year study in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado confirms widespread fears of a decline in bee pollination, with a progressive decrease in fruiting rates observed over the years. The research suggests that climate change may be a contributing factor, particularly during early seasons when bees emerge from hibernation.