Hibernation Questions: For reading see Pp. 3-10 in P. Kareiva, ed. Exploring Ecology and its Applications: Readings from American Scientist, Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA (Reading by French, A.R., The patterns of Mammalian Hibernation.)

Why do mammals hibernate?

Why do hibernating mammals come out of torpor frequently during hibernation?

How does mammalian energetic balance (i.e. energy spent to maintain high body temperature minus energy available; both calculated for a six month period) depend on body size?

How do dormancy body temperatures vary with body mass, and the likelihood of spontaneous termination of hibernation? What advantages do such conditions confer on larger mammals, and why?

How do the patterns of seasonal torpor vary within a species of mammal, such as the Belding's Ground Squirrel, and why?

What physical principals are at work in mammals, that constrain the energetics of hibernating mammals? How do hibernating mammals illustrate the concept of physiological compromise?