Migration and Suspension of Activity

When regulation is not possible and stressful conditions cannot simply be tolerated, an organism has two further options. It may migrate: move away temporarily from the stressful habitat to a more hospitable area, and return once the stressful period has passed. Many animals, particularly birds, undertake long-distance migrations of exactly this kind every winter, moving to more favourable areas and returning when conditions improve. Alternatively, it may suspend its activity altogether. In plants, this takes the form of seed dormancy -- seeds are a means of surviving periods of stress, reducing their metabolic activity and remaining dormant until favourable moisture and temperature conditions allow them to germinate into new plants. In animals that are unable to migrate, suspending activity can mean goin …