How does slowing their metabolic rate assist wood bison survival in cold temperatures?
Answer
It extracts maximum nutrients from fewer meals, reducing overall energy demand.
The physiological adaptation of slowing their metabolic rate is a crucial survival mechanism during cold weather when food quality is low. By processing food more slowly, the animal is able to extract the maximum possible nutrients from the relatively dormant winter plants they consume, thereby minimizing the total number of meals required. This reduction in overall energy demand couples perfectly with the body's need to use the ongoing digestive process itself as a source of internal heat generation during scarcity.
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