Question

Winter sleep is called as
(A) Aestivation
(B) Hibernation
(C) Migration
(D) Adaptation

Answer 1

External environment varies due to the changes in abiotic factors like temperature, light, etc. Every organism tries to maintain the constancy of its internal environment, despite varying external environments. There are many ways an organism tries to cope up with the environment. One of the mechanisms is sleeping during winter.

Complete answer:
Ecology is the study of interaction among organisms and between the organism and its physical (abiotic) environment. The major abiotic factors are temperature, water, light, soil, etc. Organisms have a relatively constant internal environment (homeostasis) that permits all biochemical reactions and physiological functions. At any cause, the organism has to maintain the constancy of its internal environment, despite the varying environmental conditions.
There are many ways an organism tries to cope with the external environment, such as regulation, conformation, migration and suspension. There are many kinds of suspension, which includes hibernation, aestivation and diapause.
Most of the animals, when they are unable to migrate or regulate or conform, they avoid the stress by escaping in time.
Hibernation is a way of coping to cold winters, without having to forage for food. It’s also known as winter sleep. Animals like chipmunks, bears, dormice, hamsters, etc. undergo hibernation. While a hibernating animal enters a state of dormancy, its breathing rate, temperature and metabolism slows down, in order to conserve energy.

Understanding the options one by one,
(A) Aestivation
This is not the correct answer. The equivalent of hibernation, which takes place during summer, is called aestivation. It is also known as summer sleep.
(B) Hibernation
This is the correct answer. Winter sleep is also known as hibernation.
(C) Migration
This is not the correct answer. Movement of an organism from stressful habitat to more hospitable zone, for a temporary period of time is called migration.
(D) Adaptation
This is not the correct answer. Adaptation is the ability of an organism to adjust to its own habitat.

Hence the correct answer is OPTION(B)

Note: Organisms respond to abiotic factors in many ways. They might regulate body temperature, conform, migrate or suspend, in order to maintain a constant internal environment. Remembering the other names of the coping mechanism and examples under each category is essential in answering these type of questions.