Question

Some organisms slow down their biological functions in periods of adverse environmental conditions. This is called dormancy. Select all of the possible reasons for an organism to be dormant.

Desert organisms may need to become dormant to hide from extremely dry weather. An example is a desert toad hiding in a den.

Organisms may need to become dormant when there is not as much food available. An example is a bear hibernating.

Organisms may need to become dormant when there is too much water available. An example is a fish hiding under ice.

Organisms may become dormant when there is not as much sunlight available. An example is a rose bush that is not in bloom.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot]

The possible reasons for an organism to be dormant are:

- To avoid extreme environmental conditions, such as drought or excessive water.
- To conserve energy during periods of low resource availability, such as food or sunlight.
- To protect against predation or other threats, such as extreme temperatures or changes in salinity.
- To survive through unfavorable conditions by reducing metabolic activity and thereby reducing the need for resources.

Thus, the correct options are:

- Desert organisms may need to become dormant to hide from extremely dry weather.
- Organisms may need to become dormant when there is not as much food available.
- Organisms may need to become dormant when there is too much water available.