in class, you will calculate the energy saved by an edible dormouse who drops its metabolic rate during hibernation. During hibernation, an animal with not eat or drink. The weight-specific Basal metabolic rate (BMR) of mammals is 3.4M-.28 when expressed in units of mLO2 consumed per gram of body tissue per hour and (importantly) weight is calculated in grams. Edible dormice weigh about 4.6 ounces and they will gain an additional 4 ounces in body fat prior to hibernation1 (they are among the only animals that gain so much relative to body weight) . SHOW YOUR WORK. You cannot get partial credit without work The value of energy content of fat is 9.3 kCal per gram of fat and 2.0 L of O2 are consumed per gram of fat metabolized. There are 5280 feet in a mile, and 1.0 foot = 0.3048 meters. One calorie = 4.184 joules. One pound (lb) = 454 grams and one ounce is 28.375 grams.

1) (3 points) Calculate the "normal" (i.e. not in hibernation, and before gaining the hibernation fat) BMR for edible dormice (i.e. while not in torpor or hibernation). Report this in whole animal BMR.

2) (3 points) How long (please report in days) can an edible dormouse survive using these fat stores alone as their energy source during hibernation. In order to complete this, please note that studies2 have found that during hibernation, edible dormice are able to achieve a metabolic rate that is approximately 2% of their BMR (absolutely amazing-most hibernators have a hibernation metabolic rate about 5% of their BMR). (Dont worry-your answer will be an astronomically large number!). After calculating this you will be able to see why it is that Edible dormice have the longest hibernation lengths of any animal-can be up to 8 months!

3) (3 points) Now calculate the energy savings of entering hibernation- how much longer can the dormouse survive using it's hibernation metabolic rate vs it's BMR. Now you can see why animals hibernate!

4) (3 points) Using the hibernation metabolic rate you determined for part 2, calculate the mass (report in Kg) of the animal we would expect to have this weight-specific BMR (given the mammalian BMR equation you have in the problem). This just goes to show how much energy is saved by being large! (Blue whales weigh about 136,000 Kg for reference!)