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Which environmental changes can trigger dormancy in organisms?
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Dormancy
Virginia big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianushibernating) are true hibernators, entering a state close to death for much of the winter.
Dormancy is a state of reduced metabolic activity that allows organisms to survive environmental stress or anticipate unfavorable conditions. The onset of this state is triggered by several key environmental variables, which often operate in cyclical patterns.12
The primary factors that contribute to the induction of dormancy include:
- Temperature: Extremes above or below an organism's normal range can trigger dormancy. For example, intense heat or extreme cold may stimulate dormant states in desert or temperate species, respectively.2
- Photoperiod: Changes in the duration and intensity of light, particularly at high latitudes, serve as critical cues. In plants, the shortening of day length is a primary signal for entering winter dormancy.23
- Resource Availability: A decrease in the availability of essential resources, such as food, water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, acts as a significant stimulus.2
- Environmental Stress: Factors such as drought or the drying up of aquatic habitats can force organisms into dormancy to ensure survival.24
These environmental cues influence an organism's regulatory systems—such as the nervous and endocrine systems—to initiate the physiological changes necessary for dormancy.56