Daily torpor and hibernation in birds and mammals
TL;DR
Metabolic suppression exists on a spectrum from daily torpor to deep hibernation
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This comprehensive review established the spectrum of metabolic suppression strategies from daily torpor to deep hibernation, articulating the fundamental trade-off: deeper shutdown = lower burn rate = higher restart risk. This trade-off framework is central to understanding when different hibernation intensities are appropriate.
Key Findings from Ruf & Geiser (2015)
- Metabolic suppression exists on a spectrum from daily torpor to deep hibernation
- Fundamental trade-off: deeper shutdown = lower burn rate = higher restart risk
- Daily torpor (50-90% reduction, hours) has minimal restart risk
- Deep hibernation (95-98% reduction, months) has significant restart risk
- Bears occupy middle ground with moderate suppression and wake capability