Why Do Some Animals Hibernate While Others Migrate?

课文

1. Animals choose hibernation or migration based on energy needs, habitat stability, and evolutionary history.

   动物选择冬眠或迁徙，取决于能量需求、栖息地稳定性及演化历史。

2. Hibernators like bears lower body temperature, heart rate, and metabolism to survive cold months without food.

   熊等冬眠动物会降低体温、心率和新陈代谢，以在无食的寒冬中存活。

3. Migration suits birds and whales that can travel long distances to find warmer climates and reliable food.

   迁徙适合鸟类和鲸类等能长距离移动、寻找温暖气候与稳定食物的动物。

4. Fat storage matters: hibernators build reserves before winter, while migrants fuel journeys with stopover feeding.

   脂肪储存至关重要：冬眠者在入冬前囤积能量，迁徙者则靠中途停歇觅食补充体力。

5. Brain chemistry changes trigger hibernation, whereas daylight length and magnetic fields guide migration paths.

   脑内化学变化触发冬眠，而日照长度与地磁场则引导迁徙路线。

6. Some species, like certain bats, use both strategies depending on local conditions and age.

   某些物种（如部分蝙蝠）会依当地条件和年龄，在两种策略间灵活切换。

7. Hibernation reduces predation risk but limits responsiveness; migration avoids harsh weather but demands huge energy.

   冬眠可降低被捕食风险，但削弱应变能力；迁徙可避开恶劣天气，却需消耗巨量能量。

8. Climate change now disrupts both patterns, causing mismatches between arrival times and food availability.

   气候变化正扰乱这两类行为，导致抵达时间与食物供应期错配。

9. Scientists study these behaviors to understand animal resilience and ecosystem health.

   科学家研究这些行为，以理解动物适应力与生态系统健康状况。

10. Neither strategy is ‘better’ — each solves survival challenges in a specific ecological niche.

    两种策略并无优劣之分——各自在其特定生态位中解决生存挑战。