Animals at the extremes: hibernation and torpor

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Animals at the extremes: hibernation and torpor provided by OpenLearn is a comprehensive online course, which lasts for 14 hours worth of material. Upon completion of the course, you can receive an e-certificate from OpenLearn. The course is taught in Englishand is Free Certificate. Visit the course page at OpenLearn for detailed price information.

Overview
  • Hibernation is an ingenious adaptation that some animals employ to survive difficult conditions in winter. This free course, Animals at the extremes: hibernation and torpor, examines the ...

Syllabus
    • Introduction
    • Learning outcomes
    • 1 Hibernation and torpor: An introduction
    • 1 Hibernation and torpor: An introduction
    • 2 The nature and extent of hibernation and torpor in endotherms
    • 2 The nature and extent of hibernation and torpor in endotherms
    • 2.1 Degrees of torpor
    • 2.2 Species showing torpor or deep hibernation
    • 2.3 Hibernators as eutherms
    • 2.4 Summary
    • 3 Characteristics of hibernation behaviour
    • 3 Characteristics of hibernation behaviour
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.1 Signals for entry
    • 3.2 Physiological changes during entry
    • 3.3 Maintenance
    • 3.4 Arousal
    • 3.4.1 Alarm arousal
    • 3.4.2 Periodic arousal
    • 3.5 Arousal (continued)
    • 3.5.1 Final arousal
    • 3.6 Length of torpor bouts in hibernation
    • 3.7 Summary
    • 4 Physiological adaptations – molecules and cells
    • 4 Physiological adaptations – molecules and cells
    • 4.1 Scientific approaches
    • 4.2 Arresting protein synthesis
    • 4.3 Cellular changes
    • 4.4 Cell survival mechanisms
    • 4.5 Summary
    • 5 Physiological adaptations – respiration and energy provision
    • 5 Physiological adaptations – respiration and energy provision
    • 5.1 Introduction
    • 5.2 Energy sources in torpor and hibernation
    • 5.3 Mitochondrial adaptations
    • 5.4 Inspiratory drive
    • 5.5 Energy budgeting – the benefits of hibernation and torpor
    • 5.6 The importance of size and habitat
    • 5.7 Summary
    • 6 Control systems
    • 6 Control systems
    • 6.1 Introduction
    • 6.2 The hypothalamus as central regulator
    • 6.3 Metabolic regulation and the midbrain
    • 6.4 Rapid-response genes and rhythmic neuronal activity
    • 6.5 The neurotransmitters histamine and serotonin: a role for chemical signalling between neurons of the hypothalamus
    • 6.6 Hormones and hibernation
    • 6.6.1 Melatonin
    • 6.6.2 Hibernation-induction trigger
    • 6.7 Sleep, the brain and hibernation
    • 6.8 Summary
    • Course Questions
    • Conclusion
    • References
    • Further reading
    • Acknowledgements