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Consider the following : 1. Bats 2. Bears 3. Rodents The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in which of the above kinds of animals?
Explanation
The phenomenon of hibernation can be observed in all three kinds of animals mentioned.
Bats generally do not feed during hibernation and rely on pre-hibernation fattening and subsequent use of these reserves to fuel hibernation[1], confirming that bats do hibernate. Bear hibernation is different than most hibernating animals -[2] when a bear 'hibernates' it is really in a deep sleep with body temperature drops but not drastically and it does not wake up[2], indicating that bears exhibit a form of hibernation (though technically called torpor or winter sleep). True hibernation (like we see in ground squirrels) involves a drastic drop in body temperature but the hibernating animal will awaken occasionally to eat and defecate before resuming hibernation[3], which confirms that rodents like ground squirrels are classic hibernators.
Therefore, hibernation can be observed in bats, bears, and rodents, making option C (1, 2 and 3) the correct answer.
Sources- [1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-52459-9
- [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > Do you know? > p. 171
- [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > Do you know? > p. 171
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Science in Everyday Life' question. While standard texts (Shankar IAS) debate the technicality of 'true hibernation' vs. 'torpor' in bears, UPSC expects the broader functional definition. It rewards common sense about temperate climate survival over strict zoological taxonomy.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"pre-hibernation fattening and subsequent use of these reserves to fuel hibernation as bats generally do not feed during hibernation[32]."
Why this source?
- Explicitly describes pre-hibernation fattening and use of fat reserves to fuel hibernation.
- States bats generally do not feed during hibernation, indicating seasonal torpor behavior.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"An optimum ambient temperature exists at which torpid bats spend th e least amount of energy during hibernation."
Why this source?
- Discusses torpor and energy expenditure specifically during hibernation.
- Refers to 'hibernating Indiana bats' and an optimal hibernation temperature, confirming hibernation as a behavior in bats.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the hibernating bats in our study area do not accumulate higher fat reserves before hibernation."
Why this source?
- Refers to onset of hibernation and changes in body condition linked to overwinter survival.
- States 'the hibernating bats in our study area' indicating that these bats undergo hibernation.
- Explicitly describes pre-hibernation fattening and use of fat reserves to fuel hibernation.
- States bats generally do not feed during hibernation, indicating seasonal torpor behavior.
- Discusses torpor and energy expenditure specifically during hibernation.
- Refers to 'hibernating Indiana bats' and an optimal hibernation temperature, confirming hibernation as a behavior in bats.
- Refers to onset of hibernation and changes in body condition linked to overwinter survival.
- States 'the hibernating bats in our study area' indicating that these bats undergo hibernation.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 8: How the Land Becomes Sacred > THINK ABOUT IT > p. 181
Strength: 4/5
“In Tamil Nadu, local chronicles highlight the relationship between the deity of a sacred grove, Nature and humans. One such chronicle in the Thanjavur District states that the groves' deities protect fruit bats, which are regarded as sacred – spotting one of them is considered auspicious. Besides, bats play a critical role in the pollination of flowers and in the dispersal of seeds. Sacred groves thus evolve a harmonious relationship between the deity, the ecosystem, and humans.”
Why relevant
Notes that fruit bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers, indicating that some bat species are active pollinators.
How to extend
A student could combine this with the fact that many pollinators hibernate seasonally to ask whether pollinating bats (often tropical/fruit bats) follow the same seasonal dormancy patterns as other pollinators.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 6: Environmental Issues > Global warming > p. 119
Strength: 4/5
“Global warming causes flowers to bloom earlier or later than usual. When pollinators come out of hibernation, the flowers that provide the food they need to start to $e season has already bloomed.
Pesticide (neonicotinoids, a neuroactive chemicaii
It's not that the pesticides which are aimed at other insects are killing the bees outright. Rather that sublethal exposure of pesticides in nectar and pollen may be interfering with the honeybees internal radar, preventing them from gathering pollen and returning safely to the hive.”
Why relevant
States a general pattern: 'pollinators come out of hibernation', establishing that hibernation is a known seasonal strategy among pollinating animals.
How to extend
Use this rule plus knowing which bats act as pollinators to infer that some bat species might hibernate in climates with seasonal resource shortages.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 11: Schedule Animals of WPA 1972 > Do you know? > p. 171
Strength: 5/5
“Bear hibernation is different than most hibernating animals. True hibernation (like we see in ground squirrels) involves a drastic drop in body temperature but the hibernating animal will awaken occasionally to eat and defecate before resuming hibernation. When a bear 'hibernates' it is really in a deep sleep. Its body temperature drops but not drastically and it does not wake up. The one exception is that a mother bear will wake up to give birth in January or February.”
Why relevant
Explains that mammals show different kinds of winter dormancy (true hibernation vs. lighter torpor/deep sleep), establishing that mammalian hibernation is variable.
How to extend
Combine this pattern with the fact that bats are mammals to reason that if bats do enter dormancy, the form could vary by species and climate (torpor, true hibernation, or reduced activity).
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 3: MAJOR BIOMES > 1. Tropical Evergreen Rainforest Biome > p. 7
Strength: 4/5
“Some animals are cryptozoic animals. Tese animals live beneath stones, logs, dead branches of trees, litters and leaves, etc. At the tree tops are the habitats of fast fying species, such as Asian falconet, and swifts etc. Moreover, the forest is full of animal activities throughout the 24 hours of a day. Some animals are active during the daytime while the others are active in the night-time. Consequently, there is always activity in this biome both in day and night, making it as this biome most alive.”
Why relevant
Describes diel activity patterns in biomes, noting nocturnal animals and continuous activity in tropical rainforests.
How to extend
A student could use this plus location data (tropical vs temperate ranges of bat species) to predict that tropical, continuously active ecosystems likely host non-hibernating bats, whereas temperate bats might hibernate.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 17: Contemporary Issues > Earthquake Forecasting > p. 14
Strength: 3/5
“The Chinese, on the basis of seismographic studies on animal behaviour, made fairly accurate predictions in the 1970s. The Chinese experts provided a list of indicative animal behaviour. Before the earthquake, cattle refused to enter corals, and ducks refond to enter water, snakes come out of hibernation, and fish jumped out of water. The Haicheng earthquake of China (1975) was accurately predicted by the Chinese experts on the basis of animal behaviour and the loss due to this earthquake of life and property was minimum. The Tang-Shan earthquake of China (1976) in which 750,000 people lost their lives could not be predicted.”
Why relevant
Gives examples of seasonal hibernation behaviour in animals (snakes coming out of hibernation), illustrating that hibernation is a seasonal response among diverse taxa.
How to extend
Extend this general seasonal-hibernation pattern to mammals and then ask whether bat species in seasonal climates exhibit analogous behaviour when resources decline.
Notes that fruit bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers, indicating that some bat species are active pollinators.
A student could combine this with the fact that many pollinators hibernate seasonally to ask whether pollinating bats (often tropical/fruit bats) follow the same seasonal dormancy patterns as other pollinators.
States a general pattern: 'pollinators come out of hibernation', establishing that hibernation is a known seasonal strategy among pollinating animals.
Use this rule plus knowing which bats act as pollinators to infer that some bat species might hibernate in climates with seasonal resource shortages.
Explains that mammals show different kinds of winter dormancy (true hibernation vs. lighter torpor/deep sleep), establishing that mammalian hibernation is variable.
Combine this pattern with the fact that bats are mammals to reason that if bats do enter dormancy, the form could vary by species and climate (torpor, true hibernation, or reduced activity).
Describes diel activity patterns in biomes, noting nocturnal animals and continuous activity in tropical rainforests.
A student could use this plus location data (tropical vs temperate ranges of bat species) to predict that tropical, continuously active ecosystems likely host non-hibernating bats, whereas temperate bats might hibernate.
Gives examples of seasonal hibernation behaviour in animals (snakes coming out of hibernation), illustrating that hibernation is a seasonal response among diverse taxa.
Extend this general seasonal-hibernation pattern to mammals and then ask whether bat species in seasonal climates exhibit analogous behaviour when resources decline.
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