1. Cold Weather Animal Survival Adaptations

2. Rules of the North Bergman’s Rule Bergman’s Rule Northern subspecies tend to be larger Northern subspecies tend to be larger Allen’s Rule Allen’s Rule Extremities in northern species tend to be smaller Extremities in northern species tend to be smaller Gloger’s Rule Gloger’s Rule Pigment in Northern species tends to be reduced Pigment in Northern species tends to be reduced Camo for pred and prey Camo for pred and prey Increases insulation (density reflect sunlight to skin) Increases insulation (density reflect sunlight to skin)

3. Subnivean Subnivean Subnivean Below the snow Below the snow Mice, Shrews, Voles, Lemmings, and Weasels are some Mice, Shrews, Voles, Lemmings, and Weasels are some Smaller and don’t follow Bergaman’s Rule…..Why? Smaller and don’t follow Bergaman’s Rule…..Why? Very important part of winter food web Very important part of winter food web

4. Bird Strategies Torpor Torpor Controlled hypothermia: Slowed HR, lower temp, lower metabolism Controlled hypothermia: Slowed HR, lower temp, lower metabolism Fluffing Fluffing Creating dead air space Creating dead air space Roosting Roosting Find warm sheltered place, can be in a tree or even subnivean Find warm sheltered place, can be in a tree or even subnivean Face the wind Face the wind (pheasants and freezing rain) (pheasants and freezing rain)

5. Other Animal Adaptations Huddling Huddling Build Shelters Build Shelters Beavers, muskrats, squirrels Beavers, muskrats, squirrels Food Changes Food Changes Diet changes for many animals (deer, mice, birds, insectivores, do anything to survive) Diet changes for many animals (deer, mice, birds, insectivores, do anything to survive) Guard hairs Guard hairs Long hairs to stop wind and shed water Long hairs to stop wind and shed water Down Hairs Down Hairs Short hairs that insulate Short hairs that insulate Brown Fat Brown Fat Fat with lots of mitochondria Fat with lots of mitochondria Insulates and actually makes heat Insulates and actually makes heat Also found in infants Also found in infants

6. Our Most Famous Hibernator Punxsutawney Phil Punxsutawney Phil Ground hog in Pennsylvania that can predict the length of winter Ground hog in Pennsylvania that can predict the length of winter Groundhogs Day is February 2 nd Groundhogs Day is February 2 nd Sees his shadow 6 more weeks of winter if not an “early spring” Sees his shadow 6 more weeks of winter if not an “early spring” Some truth to every legend? Some truth to every legend? Shadow = sunlight=high pressure from Canada which could signal we are still in a winter weather pattern Shadow = sunlight=high pressure from Canada which could signal we are still in a winter weather pattern Mammal will periodically rouse themselves during hibernation and then return to their dens Mammal will periodically rouse themselves during hibernation and then return to their dens

7. Antarctica No one owns Antarctica No one owns Antarctica Coldest place on earth Coldest place on earth 128.6 °F (-89.2 °C), at Vostok Research Station 128.6 °F (-89.2 °C), at Vostok Research Station Animals have to deal with the worst winter has to give: Animals have to deal with the worst winter has to give: Very dry, very windy, no sunlight Very dry, very windy, no sunlight Water can be -1C Water can be -1C Salt water freezes at -1.8C Salt water freezes at -1.8C

8. Antarctic Animals Krill Krill Tiny shrimp-like animals (whales eat) that feed on phytoplankton Tiny shrimp-like animals (whales eat) that feed on phytoplankton Phytoplankton Phytoplankton “Photoplankton” die off in the winter due to no sunlight “Photoplankton” die off in the winter due to no sunlight Krill Adaptations Krill Adaptations Store energy over summer Store energy over summer Become smaller Become smaller Cannibalism Cannibalism

9. Arctic and Antarctic Fish Have to deal with: Have to deal with: cold water, little food, and low light cold water, little food, and low light Accumulate sodium, potassium, and urea in blood (antifreeze) Accumulate sodium, potassium, and urea in blood (antifreeze) Slowed metabolism Slowed metabolism Specially designed so their bodies function best at near freezing temps Specially designed so their bodies function best at near freezing temps Extra enzymes to make chemical reactions more efficient Extra enzymes to make chemical reactions more efficient

10. Fish (continued) Better sensory systems to deal with low light and murky water from glaciers (don’t waste energy) Better sensory systems to deal with low light and murky water from glaciers (don’t waste energy) A few fish developed with out hemoglobin A few fish developed with out hemoglobin They have very low metabolic rates They have very low metabolic rates The lack of hemoglobin thins the blood The lack of hemoglobin thins the blood Blood and Heart are clear or milky colored Blood and Heart are clear or milky colored

11. Antarctic Birds Penguins Penguins One of the best suited animals for the Antarctic climate One of the best suited animals for the Antarctic climate Have short overlapping feathers Have short overlapping feathers Only one species (emperor) stays over the winter Only one species (emperor) stays over the winter Have very thick fat layer Have very thick fat layer Short stubby extremities Short stubby extremities Round stocky bodies Round stocky bodies Huddle for warmth Huddle for warmth Males incubate egg on feet Males incubate egg on feet

12. Antarctic Plants Lichens are the only plants consistently found on Antarctica Lichens are the only plants consistently found on Antarctica Have been observed doing photosynthesis at -20C Have been observed doing photosynthesis at -20C Psycrophiles Psycrophiles Bacteria that live in very cold environments Bacteria that live in very cold environments Have been found in under ice lakes in Antarctica Have been found in under ice lakes in Antarctica

13. Why study Cold Adaptations? Space travel Space travel Cryogenic freezing Cryogenic freezing Heart Conditions Heart Conditions Metabolism Conditions Metabolism Conditions Diabetes Diabetes The unknown The unknown “I don’t know what I don’t know” “I don’t know what I don’t know”

15. The End