Now scientists believe that global warming affects hibernating animals, causing them to wake up earlier.
Now
scientists
believe
that
global
warming
affects
hibernating
animals
,
causing
them
to
wake
up
earlier
.
While this may seem a little concern, it is in fact a serious environmental problem.
While
this
may
seem
a
little
concern
,
it
is
in
fact
a
serious
environmental
problem
.
The shortened hibernation period could actually lead to significant decreases in the population of several species.
The
shortened
hibernation
period
could
actually
lead
to
significant
decreases
in
the
population
of
several
species
.
Some of the first evidence of the problem came from Colorado, where researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab have been observing marmot hibernation behavior since the 1970s.
Some
of
the
first
evidence
of
the
problem
came
from
Colorado
,
where
researchers
at
the
Rocky
Mountain
Biological
Lab
have
been
observing
marmot
hibernation
behavior
since
the
1970s
.
In the early days of their studies, marmots generally hibernated several weeks into the month of May.
In
the
early
days
of
their
studies
,
marmots
generally
hibernated
several
weeks
into
the
month
of
May
.
Nowadays, however, temperatures in the area have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and the marmots wake up about a month earlier.
Nowadays
,
however
,
temperatures
in
the
area
have
risen
by
2.5
degrees
Fahrenheit
,
and
the
marmots
wake
up
about
a
month
earlier
.
At least the marmots are still hibernating.
At
least
the
marmots
are
still
hibernating
.
Several other animals have not been hibernating at all recently.
Several
other
animals
have
not
been
hibernating
at
all
recently
.
Brown bears in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains did not hibernate last year.
Brown
bears
in
the
Spanish
Cantabrian
Mountains
did
not
hibernate
last
year
.
Chipmunks in the US and some snakes in Australia also skipped the hibernation period.
Chipmunks
in
the
US
and
some
snakes
in
Australia
also
skipped
the
hibernation
period
.
The bears seem to have survived without losing many individuals.
The
bears
seem
to
have
survived
without
losing
many
individuals
.
The chipmunks and snakes, however, were not so lucky.
The
chipmunks
and
snakes
,
however
,
were
not
so
lucky
.
Many of the animals died of starvation during the winter.
Many
of
the
animals
died
of
starvation
during
the
winter
.
The problem with animals waking up early, or skipping hibernation altogether, lies with the creatures' metabolism.
The
problem
with
animals
waking
up
early
,
or
skipping
hibernation
altogether
,
lies
with
the
creatures
'
metabolism
.
When the animals hibernate, their metabolism drops significantly.
When
the
animals
hibernate
,
their
metabolism
drops
significantly
.
The animals' heart rate slows, and they require very little energy to live.
The
animals
'
heart
rate
slows
,
and
they
require
very
little
energy
to
live
.
When the animals awake in the spring, their metabolism returns to normal.
When
the
animals
awake
in
the
spring
,
their
metabolism
returns
to
normal
.
But while their metabolism may be as active as it was before hibernation, food sources aren't as available as they were before.
But
while
their
metabolism
may
be
as
active
as
it
was
before
hibernation
,
food
sources
are
n't
as
available
as
they
were
before
.
A marmot may wake up when temperatures get warmer, thinking it's spring, but plants will not have got the amount of sun they need to grow.
A
marmot
may
wake
up
when
temperatures
get
warmer
,
thinking
it
's
spring
,
but
plants
will
not
have
got
the
amount
of
sun
they
need
to
grow
.
So until the plants grow, the marmots have no reliable food source.
So
until
the
plants
grow
,
the
marmots
have
no
reliable
food
source
.
Many scientists believe the problem will continue to get worse.
Many
scientists
believe
the
problem
will
continue
to
get
worse
.
For many biologists, that's a scary prospect.
For
many
biologists
,
that
's
a
scary
prospect
.
Terry Root, an animal expert at Stanford University, said, "I do think what we will be facing is the extinction of many species."
Terry
Root
,
an
animal
expert
at
Stanford
University
,
said
,
``
I
do
think
what
we
will
be
facing
is
the
extinction
of
many
species
.
''
Now scientists believe that global warming affects hibernating animals, causing them to wake up earlier. While this may seem a little concern, it is in fact a serious environmental problem. The shortened hibernation period could actually lead to significant decreases in the population of several species.  Some of the first evidence of the problem came from Colorado, where researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab have been observing marmot hibernation behavior since the 1970s. In the early days of their studies, marmots generally hibernated several weeks into the month of May. Nowadays, however, temperatures in the area have risen by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and the marmots wake up about a month earlier.  At least the marmots are still hibernating. Several other animals have not been hibernating at all recently. Brown bears in the Spanish Cantabrian Mountains did not hibernate last year. Chipmunks in the US and some snakes in Australia also skipped the hibernation period. The bears seem to have survived without losing many individuals. The chipmunks and snakes, however, were not so lucky. Many of the animals died of starvation during the winter.  The problem with animals waking up early, or skipping hibernation altogether, lies with the creatures' metabolism. When the animals hibernate, their metabolism drops significantly. The animals' heart rate slows, and they require very little energy to live. When the animals awake in the spring, their metabolism returns to normal.  But while their metabolism may be as active as it was before hibernation, food sources aren't as available as they were before. A marmot may wake up when temperatures get warmer, thinking it's spring, but plants will not have got the amount of sun they need to grow. So until the plants grow, the marmots have no reliable food source.  Many scientists believe the problem will continue to get worse. For many biologists, that's a scary prospect. Terry Root, an animal expert at Stanford University, said, "I do think what we will be facing is the extinction of many species."