Plants and animals can survive harsh conditions by moving, adapting, or entering a dormant state.
Dormancy helps organisms escape tough seasons by slowing down their activity until conditions improve.
In a recent study, researchers discovered that dormancy can help different species survive together when environments change.
What is dormancy ? Many organisms, like bears and plants, use dormancy to survive difficult times.
Some organisms remain inactive for centuries or even thousands of years.
We focused on diapause, a type of dormancy in animals where they slow down their activity to resist changes in the environment.
Does dormancy help species survive ? In our experiment with nematode worms, we found that species more inclined to dormancy can coexist with competitors in different environments.
Species that invest in dormancy can survive better in changing climates, making them more resilient .
We will continue studying dormancy in plants, animals, and microbes to understand its role in the real world.
Natalie Jones, Lecturer in Ecology, Griffith University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Dormancy /ˈdɔːr.mən.si/ noun
A state of inactivity or reduced metabolic activity in organisms allowing them to survive unfavorable conditions.
Adapt /əˈdæpt/ verb
To adjust or modify behavior or characteristics to better fit a particular environment or situation.
Survive /sərˈvaɪv/ verb
To continue to live or exist especially in spite of danger or hardship.
Resist /rɪˈzɪst/ verb
To withstand the force or effect of something such as environmental changes.
Coexist /ˌkoʊ.ɪɡˈzɪst/ verb
To exist together in the same time or space often despite differences or competition.
Resilient /rɪˈzɪl.jənt/ adjective
Able to recover quickly from difficulties or adapt well to change.
How much do you know?
How do plants and animals survive harsh conditions?
By moving
By adapting
By entering a dormant state
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a way organisms escape tough seasons?
Moving
Adapting
Eating
Entering a dormant state
What type of dormancy was focused on in the text?
Hibernation
Diapause
Aestivation
Estivation
What did researchers discover about dormancy in the recent study?
It only helps individual species survive
It has no impact on survival in changing environments
It can help different species survive together when environments change
It is ineffective in harsh conditions
What does dormancy help species do in changing climates?
Struggle to survive
Lose resilience
Survive better
Adapt quickly
Who is studying dormancy in plants, animals, and microbes?
Natalie Jones
The research team at Griffith University
No one is studying it
Multiple research teams worldwide
Dormancy can help organisms survive tough seasons.
True
False
Dormancy is only effective for individual species survival.
True
False
The study focused on dormancy in plants only.
True
False
Dormancy makes species less resilient in changing climates.
True
False
Species more inclined to dormancy can coexist with competitors in different environments.
True
False
Dormancy is not beneficial for the survival of different species.
True
False
Dormancy helps organisms escape tough seasons by slowing down their activity until conditions improve.
True
False
In a recent study, researchers discovered that dormancy can help different species survive together when environments change.
True
False
