Bradymetabolism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bradymetabolism refers to organisms with a high active metabolism and a considerably slower resting metabolism.[1] Bradymetabolic animals can often undergo dramatic changes in metabolic speed, according to food availability and temperature. Many bradymetabolic creatures in deserts and in areas that experience extreme winters are capable of "shutting down" their metabolisms to approach near-death states, until favorable conditions return (see hibernation and estivation).
[edit] Etymology
The term is from Ancient Greek, brady (βραδύ), meaning "slow"; metabolia (μεταβολία), meaning "to change".
[edit] See also
- ^ Bligh, J., and Johnson, K.G., 1973. Glossary for terms for thermal physiology. Journal of Applied Physiology 35(6):941-961.
