Hibernation Quiz

Why do animals need to hibernate?

1. To conserve energy
2. To build body fat
3. To stay warm in the winter
Answer: Animals hibernate in order to conserve energy over the winter, when it is
hard to find enough food to maintain the energy levels required to function.
What happens to an animal/s body during hibernation?
1. Temperature increases.
2. Temperature decreases.
3. Heart rate increases.
Answer: During hibernation, body temperature, heart rate and respiration rate
are decreased. Animals stop eating and many also stop excreting. Reducing
these functions reduces the energy the animal requires.
Which animals are more likely to hibernate?
1. Smaller animals
2. Larger animals
3. Fat animals
Answer: It is hard for smaller animals to migrate due to the amount of energy
required, so smaller animals tend to hibernate. In addition, it would take too
much energy for a larger animal to warm up after hibernation, so larger animals
tend to migrate.
What is the most significant change to the body as part of hibernation?
1. Temperature
2. Heart rate
3. Body fat
Answer: Temperature drop is the most significant aspect of hibernation. Some
animals drop their body temperature by as much as 65 degrees Fahrenheit (17
Celcius).
How do animals know when it is time to hibernate?
1. They sense the temperature change
2. They see their food supplies running out
3. Both of the above
Answer: Different animals use different methods to know when it is time to
hibernate and when it is time to wake up. Some use the outside temperature as
their gauge, some watch their food supplies and some see the waxing length of
day, called photoperiod, and know it is time to hibernate.
How do animals ensure they have enough energy stores to last them for the
winter?
1. They eat a lot before hibernating
2. They store food with them
3. Both of the above
Answer: Some animals collect food that won’t perish and keep with them.
However, this means they need to wake up during the winter in order to eat.
Other animals prefer to eat a lot before the winter and build up a fat reserve.
Some animals use both of these methods.