The Ultimate Hibernation Tutorial - AntsCanada Tutorial #21

Summary

In this educational video, 'ants Canada AKA Mikey Boos' explores the concept of hibernation in insects, particularly ants. He explains the difference between endothermy and ectothermy, highlighting how ants, being poikilothermic and ectothermic, slow down during winter due to reduced metabolic rates. The video also covers how ants prepare for hibernation and the importance of maintaining proper humidity during this period. It concludes with practical advice for ant keepers on how to manage their colonies during the winter months.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Insects have conquered almost all parts of the planet and many, like ants, hibernate during winter.
• 🌡 Homeotherms, such as humans and birds, maintain a constant internal body temperature regardless of the environment, a process known as endothermy.
• 🐍 Poikilotherms, like reptiles and amphibians, have body temperatures that fluctuate with the environment, a process called ectothermy.
• 🐜 Ants are classified as poikilothermic and ectothermic, meaning their body temperature and physiological processes are influenced by the environment.
• 🔥 Heat energy is crucial for biochemical reactions within an animal's body, with endotherms maintaining a constant rate regardless of external temperatures.
• ❄️ Ectotherms like ants slow down their physiological processes when it's cold, which is why they hibernate during winter to conserve energy.
• 🥶 The benefit of being poikilothermic and ectothermic is a lower net demand for energy and food, especially during colder periods.
• 🛑 Ants undergo a form of hibernation called bradymetabolism, which is a low metabolic speed during resting periods, often in response to food availability and temperature.
• 🐻 Other bradymetabolic creatures include bears and chipmunks, which also hibernate during winter due to a biological clock and environmental cues.
• 🏠 To hibernate ants, keepers should place them in a cold environment, typically between 2°C and 10°C, and ensure adequate humidity.
• 💧 Ants produce glycerol as an antifreeze in their hemolymph, which prevents their tissues from freezing at temperatures below 0°C.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by ants Canada AKA Mikey Boos?

The main topic of the video is about hibernation in ants and what happens to them during the winter.

What are the two types of body temperature regulation mentioned in the script?

The two types of body temperature regulation mentioned are endothermy, where warm-blooded animals maintain a constant internal body temperature, and poikilothermy, where cold-blooded animals' internal temperature follows the environmental temperature.

What is the term used to describe animals that do not internally regulate their body temperature like homeotherms do?

The term used is 'poikilothermy', also known as cold-bloodedness.

How do ectothermic animals regulate their body temperature?

Ectothermic animals regulate their body temperature through external means such as basking in the sun to warm up or retreating to shade or water to cool off.

Why do ants and other poikilothermic animals slow down in the winter?

Ants and other poikilothermic animals slow down in the winter because their body temperature and the rate of biological processes are affected by the colder environmental temperature.

What is the advantage of being a poikilotherm or ectotherm in terms of energy and food demand?

The advantage is that poikilotherms and ectotherms have a lower net demand for energy and food, especially during colder temperatures when their metabolic processes slow down.

What is 'Brady metabolism' and how does it relate to hibernation in ants?

'Brady metabolism' refers to a low metabolic speed during a resting period, often in response to food availability and temperature. It relates to hibernation in ants as they undergo this process, slowing down their metabolism during winter even if kept warm.

Why do ants still hibernate even if kept warm during the winter months?

Ants hibernate even if kept warm during the winter months because they follow a biological clock and their evolution has instilled in them the trigger to hibernate when it is naturally cold and food is scarce.

What is the role of glycerol in ants during hibernation?

Glycerol acts as an antifreeze in ants, preventing their tissues from freezing at temperatures below 0 Celsius.

What temperature range is recommended for hibernating ants according to the video?

The recommended temperature range for hibernating ants is between 2° C and 10° C.

Why is humidity important during the hibernation of ants?

Humidity is important during hibernation to ensure that the ants have access to moisture, which is necessary for their survival even though they do not require food during this period.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Hibernation and Insect Physiology

This paragraph introduces the concept of hibernation in insects and explains the difference between homeotherms and poikilotherms. It highlights that insects, including ants, are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is influenced by the environment. The paragraph also discusses the biochemical reactions within an organism and how temperature affects these processes. It explains that in cold conditions, ectotherms like ants slow down their physiological processes, leading to a state of hibernation. The summary emphasizes the importance of maintaining a constant body temperature for homeotherms and the energy-saving benefits of being a poikilotherm.

05:02

🛑 Ant Hibernation and Bradymetabolic Traits

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of ant hibernation, focusing on the bradymetabolic nature of ants. It describes how ants, as bradymetabolic organisms, can slow their metabolism significantly during periods of rest, especially in response to temperature and food availability. The paragraph explains that even if ants are kept warm during winter, they will still hibernate due to their biological clock and evolutionary instincts. It also touches on the concept of estivation, which is a similar process that occurs in response to high temperatures or lack of food. The summary provides practical advice for ant keepers on how to manage their colonies during winter, including the ideal temperature range for hibernation and the importance of maintaining humidity.

10:04

🎉 Conclusion and Antkeeping Break

The final paragraph serves as a conclusion to the video, summarizing the importance of hibernation for both ants and their keepers. It emphasizes the benefits of hibernation for the ants, such as prolonging the queen's life by giving her a break from egg-laying. The paragraph also highlights the opportunity for ant keepers to take a break and refresh their interest in antkeeping. The summary ends with a call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel and support the content creators.

Keywords

💡Hibernation

Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals during the winter months. In the context of the video, it is a key concept explaining how ants and other poikilothermic organisms adapt to cold temperatures by slowing down their biological processes. The script mentions that ants hibernate to conserve energy when external temperatures drop, illustrating the importance of this process for their survival during the harsh winter season.

💡Poikilothermy

Poikilothermy, also known as cold-bloodedness, refers to the physiological condition of an organism whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its environment. The video emphasizes that ants, being poikilothermic, have their internal temperature influenced by the external environment, which affects their metabolic rate and activity levels, particularly during winter when temperatures are low.

💡Ectothermy

Ectothermy is the process by which ectothermic animals regulate their body temperature externally, often by moving to warmer or cooler areas. The script explains that ants, as ectothermic creatures, thermoregulate by seeking out the sun to warm up or retreating to shade or water to cool down, demonstrating how they manage their body temperature in response to environmental changes.

💡Bradymetabolism

Bradymetabolism is a metabolic state characterized by a reduced metabolic rate, often occurring during rest or in response to environmental conditions such as food scarcity or extreme temperatures. The video script describes how ants exhibit bradymetabolism during winter hibernation, entering a state of near inactivity and reduced metabolic speed, which is a survival strategy to conserve energy.

💡Endothermy

Endothermy is the ability of an organism to maintain a constant body temperature regardless of the external environment. The script contrasts endothermy with poikilothermy, noting that warm-blooded animals like humans and birds can regulate their body temperature internally through processes like shivering and sweating, unlike ants which are ectothermic and depend on external conditions.

💡Metabolism

Metabolism refers to the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The video script discusses how the rate of metabolism in ants, being ectothermic, is influenced by the ambient temperature, slowing down significantly during the cold winter months and speeding up when it is warm, affecting their feeding, movement, and growth.

💡Glycerol

Glycerol is a type of polyol compound that serves as an antifreeze in the bodies of some organisms, preventing ice crystal formation that could damage cells. The script mentions that ants produce glycerol in their hemolymph to protect themselves from freezing during hibernation, highlighting the biological adaptation that allows them to survive in sub-zero temperatures.

💡Formicarium

A formicarium is an artificial nest or habitat for ants, often used by ant keepers to house and observe their colonies. The video script advises on how to maintain the humidity and water levels in a formicarium during the winter months to ensure the ants' survival during hibernation, showing the importance of a suitable environment for ant care.

💡Estivation

Estivation is a state of dormancy in some animals during hot and dry periods, similar to hibernation but occurring in summer. The script explains that ants may undergo estivation during excessively hot summers or when there is a lack of food, entering a period of reduced metabolic activity to conserve energy and survive until more favorable conditions return.

💡Hemolymph

Hemolymph is the circulatory fluid in the bodies of insects and some other invertebrates, analogous to the blood in vertebrates. The video script refers to the production of glycerol in the ants' hemolymph as a mechanism to prevent freezing during hibernation, illustrating the role of this fluid in the ants' physiological adaptations to cold.

💡Ant Keeping

Ant keeping is the hobby of maintaining and observing ant colonies in captivity. The video script is directed towards ant keepers, providing information on how to properly hibernate ants during the winter and the biological processes that occur during this period. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the ants' natural behaviors and physiological needs for successful ant keeping.

Highlights

Ants and other insects are poikilothermic and ectothermic, meaning their body temperature follows the environmental temperature.

Warm-blooded animals like humans, mammals, and birds are homeothermic, maintaining a constant body temperature regardless of the environment.

Endothermy is the process of temperature regulation in homeotherms, allowing them to keep their bodies warm through shivering and sweating.

Ectotherms regulate their body temperature by basking in the sun to warm up and retreating to shade or water to cool off.

Ants are categorized as poikilothermic and ectothermic animals, affected by external temperature changes.

Heat energy affects biochemical reactions in animals, with endotherms maintaining constant internal body temperature for optimal metabolism.

Ectotherms like ants have body temperatures that match their surroundings, affecting their digestion, movement, and metabolism.

Ants slow down in cold temperatures, experiencing reduced feeding, movement, growth, and metabolism.

Poikilothermy and ectothermy in ants lead to lower energy and food demands compared to homeotherms.

Ants undergo hibernation in winter due to their biological clock, even if kept warm, as part of their Brady metabolism.

Brady metabolism refers to a low metabolic speed during resting periods, often in response to food availability and temperature.

Ants prepare for hibernation by decreasing appetite and activity, and some may block off nest entrances.

Ants do not require food during hibernation, as their biological processes are slowed down to a near shutdown mode.

Estivation is a process similar to hibernation, where ants shut down in response to high temperatures or insufficient food.

Ants produce glycerol in their hemolymph, acting as an antifreeze to prevent freezing at temperatures below 0°C.

Hibernating ants should be kept between 2°C and 10°C, and maintaining humidity is crucial during this period.

Ants Canada is releasing a helpful product to assist in the hibernation process for both ants and their keepers.

Hibernation gives ants a break, potentially prolonging the lives of queens, and allows ant keepers a respite from constant care.

Transcripts

[Music]

damn these clows I don't know what it is

I got something gets them working

hypnotize them I

[Music]

already hey what's up guys it's your boy

an Canada AKA Mikey Boos bringing you

another random uh ant video I'm here in

the cockpit of private jet this the

steering

wheel the private jet and we have a our

assistant Captain

here look at all the buttons here you

know you really have to kind of know

what you're doing so for all those who

have gone flying this is exactly what it

looks like in the Pilot's area and uh

we're going to uh have a little bit of

fun here but I wanted to say uh insects

have conquered almost all parts of the

planet and unless you're a monarch

butterfly uh which migrates and pretty

much flies to

Mexico you're going to have to hibernate

so uh this video I wanted to do uh is a

video about hibernation and uh exactly

what happens during the winter to all of

the colonies so watch this next video

thank

you warm-blooded animals or homeotherms

like humans other mammals and birds are

biologically designed to keep their

internal body at an optimal and constant

warm temperature despite what is going

on in their our environment when it's

too cold we shiver when it's too hot we

sweat to drop our body temperature to

Optimal levels this internal process of

temperature regulating like shivering

and sweating is called endothermy the

body temperature regulating mechanisms

of endothermy allow homeotherms to keep

their bodies at a constant warm

temperature the opposite of homeothermy

is poikilothermy or in layman's terms

cold-bloodedness poikilothermy is a term

that describes animals that do not

internally regulate their body

temperature in the same manner

homeotherms do but rather whose internal

temperature follows the environmental

outside temperature

fluctuations to regulate their body

temperature poikilotherms Thermo

regulate and bask in the sun to warm up

and Retreat to shade or water to cool

off a process called ectothermy where

body regulating is more external in

nature reptiles amphibians most fish and

most invertebrates which of course

include ants and other insects fall

under this category of poikilothermic

and ectothermic animals animals can fall

into one some or all of the four

aformentioned groups example lions are

homeothermic and endothermic but they

can cheat by basking in the sun which is

ectothermic bees are poikilothermic and

ectothermic but can use their wing

muscles to generate heat which makes

them also endothermic for our purposes

though ants fall under the categories of

poikilothermic and ectothermic

now let's look at why animals need heat

in their bodies in the first place and

why ants physiologically shut down in

the winter heat energy affects the

multitude of biochemical reactions that

take place in the body of an animal

enzyme activity or metabolism for

instance as well as other biochemical

reactions within the body are optimized

at rather specific warm temperatures

endotherms as mentioned keep their

internal bodies at a constant warm

temperature regardless of what

temperature it is outside of the body

and as a result our metabolism and

digestion remains constant our breathing

remains relatively constant our muscles

and movement remain relatively constant

our brain and nervous activity and our

circulatory systems remain relatively

constant in cold or hot weather

ectotherms like ants however have body

temperatures that match the temperature

of their surroundings and because

temperature affects the rate of

biological processes when it's really

warm outside the temperature inside

their bodies are warm and biological

processes occur at a higher optimal rate

they digest food faster they convert

food to energy faster which means they

move quicker they are hungrier their

mental and nervous processes are quicker

their cells reproduce quicker they grow

quicker Queens produce eggs more quickly

Pupi develop faster in the Heat and

everything is just so much quicker when

it's warm when their ambient temperature

is cold then their bodies are cold and

the physiological processes greatly slow

down therefore when winter approaches or

when it gets cold ants and other insects

simply slow down feeding movement growth

and Metabolism slow down considerably

which is why when you stick your ants in

the fridge or when you place your ants

in a cold basement during the winter

they are slow moving biologically

speaking the benefit of poikilothermy

and ectothermy as an effective

evolutionary strategy is its lower net

demand for energy and food while

homeotherms like we humans have to

ingest more food and water the colder it

gets outside the body in order to fuel

our bodies to work at keeping our

insides optimally warm poikilotherms and

ectotherms at colder temperatures simply

don't have that same demand for food

because everything running in them is

slower meaning food demands are lower

during winter hibernation ants don't

require food at all because they

essentially are slowed down to a virtual

shutdown mode due to the cold during

winter hibernation typical ant keeping

maintenance goes way

down so now that we have that explained

some ant Keepers might ask why is it

that if one tries to keep ants warm

during the winter months the ant

colonies still appear to slow down and

undergo a hibernation period as if it

were cold well there's another process

Happening Here aside from being

poikilothermic and ectothermic ants also

fall under the category of Brady

metabolic organisms Brady metabolism

refers to a low metabolic speed during a

resting period in many cases in response

to food availability and temperature

many Brady metabolic 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 in the case of winters

the process is called hibernation Brady

metabolic animals that shut down in the

winter include Bears Chipmunks and ants

if you keep ants warm during the winter

they still undergo hibernation because

they run on a biological clock and will

simply hibernate even if it's warm their

evolution has instilled in them the

trigger to hibernate during the winter

months when it is naturally cold and

food is scarce once fall comes around

ants will naturally begin to prepare for

hibernation and you will notice

appetites decreasing and general

activity slowly decreasing the ants may

attempt to block off the entrances to

their nests some will Gorge themselves

with food enough to sustain themselves

through the several winter months of

zero foraging by winter they sit still

and body movement is is minimal they act

as if they are cold even if you try to

fool them into thinking it's summer

during the winter months by heating

their nests ants even show evidence of

radiom metabolism when it gets too hot

or when there is insufficient food a

process called estivation estivation can

be seen in false Honeypot ants penus and

Paris during the hot summers and the

Ants shut down until temperatures drop

to cooler temperatures you also May

notice that when ants are not provided

with sufficient nutrition they will

undergo an escavation period many ant

keepers have written to us asking why

their ants have been inactive in the

middle of summer as if entering

hibernation now you know they're

estivating due to high temperatures or

lack of proper nourishment in summary

then ants shut down and hibernate in the

winter due to poikilothermy and

ectothermy and due to Brady metabolism

okay so at what temperature does an ant

keeper hibernate their ants and how does

do it essentially you need to place your

ants in a very cold place and though it

gets very cold outside placing the ants

outside may possibly kill them although

there are species that can take some

very cold temperatures as low as -25° c

as observed in leptothorax most ants

simply dig deeper into the ground where

it stays a few degrees warmer than above

ground if you can place your ants in the

fridge do so on low setting or you can

place them in an unheated room in a

basement or in a garage

temperatures just a few degrees above

freezing should be enough although if

you live in warmer temperate regions you

might want to make sure it doesn't drop

too low don't worry about the ants

freezing to death in the winter as the

ants produce glycerol in their hemolymph

which acts as an antifreeze which keeps

their tissues from freezing at

temperatures below 0 celsus hibernating

your ants between 2° C and 10° C should

be sufficient though ants don't require

food during the shutting down period one

of the things that is required during

hibernation is humidity and water if

your ants are in a test tube setup you

don't have to worry so much as the water

and humidity are there for them if

you're housing the ants in a formicarium

and outworld setup however you will

definitely need to water the setup so it

stays moist the good news is a cold

formicarium will not lose water as fast

as a warm one so if you are used to

Watering your formicarium on a daily

basis during the warm months you may

notice the formicarium will stay moist

for several days longer than usual

during the winter months the ants Canada

ant store is releasing a helpful product

to make this process easier for both you

and the Ants we hope this tutorial has

helped you gain a better understanding

of this whole hibernation process

hibernation is great as it gives your

ants a nice break is set to prolong the

lives of Queens by giving them a yearly

break from the burdens of egg laying and

also gives ant Keepers a chance to take

a nice break from the demands of

antkeeping which in turn always always

keeps and keeping a fresh and

invigorating experience this is your an

Captain ants Canada signing out thank

you thank you guys for watching our

videos uh if you haven't yet subscribe

to our videos um thank you so much for

the support and spread the love thank

you her fly to the top DJ spin it up up

away can't get down touch the

ground baby take it home with the music

Shake your bones on it on it on it I'm

going jump on it on it on it and on it

it on it I'mma jump on it on it on

it get get down touch the ground run it

baby take it home with the music Shake

your

bones