Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival

by Bernd Heinrich

Paper Book, 2003

Status

Available

Call number

591.43

Genres

Collection

Animals

Publication

Ecco (2003), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 368 pages

Description

The animal kingdom relies on staggering evolutionary innovations to survive winter. Unlike their human counterparts, who alter the environment to accommodate physical limitations, most animals are adapted to an amazing range of conditions. In Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival, biologist, illustrator, and award-winning author Bernd Heinrich explores his local woods, where he delights in the seemingly infinite feats of animal inventiveness he discovers there.Because winter drastically affects the most elemental component of all life-water-radical changes in a creature's physiology and behavior must take place to match the demands of the environment. Some creatures survive by developing antifreeze; others must remain in constant motion to maintain their high body temperatures. Even if animals can avoid freezing to death, they must still manage to find food in a time of scarcity or store if from a time of plenty.Infused by the author's inexhaustible enchantment with nature, Winter World awakens the wonders and mysteries by which nature sustains herself through winter's harsh, cruel exigencies.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member dypaloh

Many winters ago, I spent some time sleeping in a van in the mountainous areas of Colorado and Utah. The dark faux paneling inside the rear of the van would be frosted white at daybreak. If storms descended at night, the van itself became a cocoon covered by snow.

Not until reading Winter World: The

Ingenuity of Animal Survival did I learn that those nights were subnivean. That word now casts a sort of spell awakening long past memories. It also identifies a fascinating space where living creatures survive the northern cold. That, and much else, count among the surprises and delights I experienced reading Bernd Heinrich’s book.

To share just one of the many things I liked in Winter World: Frogs frozen solid.
And they like it! Well, I don’t know if they do but some require it. They freeze themselves solid to survive the freezing cold. I know, sounds impossible.
Freezing will kill a frog if that freezing happens inside its cells. Ice crystals within cells act like alien robots, cutting “like knives, slashing membranes, puncturing cell organelles and breaking cells.” The ingenuity of frogs is that they prevent this intracellular mayhem by freezing only the spaces outside cells, i.e. the spaces between cells. They use natural antifreezes inside the cell to protect it there. Outside the cell, special proteins help form ice in the extracellular spaces, which drives water still inside the cell to the outside, thereby reducing the risk of mortal freezing further. It’s an amazing way life has found to be both cold and alive.

Winter World is an attractively prepared book with drawings by the author, so it seems the publisher was willing to invest effort and more than a minimal sum of money in its publication. It is surprising, then, how many typographical errors there are, which depending on your tolerance can be a little annoying. But in the end, this sort of thing is a minimal distraction. What stays with the reader are the phenomenal phenomena Bernd Heinrich has shared and his great love for observing the living habits of animals in the winter world.

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LibraryThing member lindseynichols

Lovely, meditative reading on how animals survive the north woods' winters. Includes information on dormancy, torpor, hibernation, "antifreeze" in blood, etc. Animals discussed include weasels/ermine, kinglets, chipmunks, moths, bees, and many others. My favorite section involved the goings-on of

mice living in the sub-nivean (under-snow) zone. This is an Intriguing, well-written book that brings a much-needed chill to any sweltering summer day.

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LibraryThing member EmilyBarber

The first book by Bernd Heinrich I read, it was also one that I devoured and enjoyed immensely. One thing that comes across strongly in the book is how serious Heinrich is about his research - among other "crazy" things, he collects and microwaves dead birds to see how quickly they lose body heat.

That takes devotion. But coupled with this seriousness about science is the ability to convey what's he's found out in a way that is accessible and interesting to the average reader, and that's what makes him such a great author.

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LibraryThing member bas615

I picked this book up as I was buried in 3 feet of snow and the question of cold weather survival was towards the front of my mind. However, until i stopped to think about it the severity of the situation faced by so many species had not come home to me. But Heinrich does an excellent job of

setting forth the different challenges for different animals and then showcasing the multitude of adaptations that make survival possible. He has researched quite extensively and this research is then joined with his personal observations, which he has documented quite precisely. The study of animals in such extreme circumstances is quite difficult and this is mirrored in the lack of research in many areas. The author often presents his own theories in the lack of definitive research and explains his thought process without claiming to have solved the puzzle.

The adaptations touched on in this book are extraordinary. I feel that our society has lost so of its appreciation of the awe inspiring quality of nature. As we grow more sheltered from the natural world we have become fascinated with technological advances. Meanwhile, nature offers some of the most wondrous and captivating advances in all of history. To imagine an organism that can let its blood freeze and then bring itself back to life is amazing. To think of a frog that is able to survive for 5 months without breathing is mind-boggling. This complexity and creativity of the natural world need to be shared if there is ever to be a serious movement to sustain diversity on this planet.

There are times when the writing is fairly scientific but I view that as a necessity to understand such complex organisms. In no way is this language beyond the comprehension of a lay reader. I would recommend this book to anyone that wants to respark that passion for the wonder of nature.

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LibraryThing member jlparent

I wanted to like it. I enjoyed some bits, but most often I felt like it was either too much surface info or not enough. There are beautiful sketches inside of various animals, which is nice. But about halfway through I gave up, due to being overloaded too often, not given enough info when he

finally did peak my interest, and the jumbled overall feeling of disorganization. I think some good editing would have made this readable.

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LibraryThing member dissed1

I enjoy Bernd Heinrich's writing. He's a dedicated naturalist and his interest in wildlife is contagious. I do think however, that sometimes he writes a little too much like the scientist that he is. Winter World, like it's companion volume, Summer World, tends to read a bit too technically

sometimes for the layreader, and focus frequently jumps from one subject to another within the space of a paragraph.

I do appreciate his inherent inquisitiveness and the straightforward way he goes about devining information to answer the questions that plague him. His hand drawn wildlife images are charming and enhance the accessibility of his book.

All in all, Winter World is a beneficial read--you'll definitely learn and begin to look at nature closely, in a way you never have before. I think it can best be digested in small segments at a time, though.

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LibraryThing member JBD1

Like so many of Heinrich's books, a lovely and eclectic exploration of his chosen topic: in this case, animal adaptations for northern winters. Enjoyed it immensely.

LibraryThing member farrhon

meh - talks too much about himself

LibraryThing member steve02476

Wonderful book full of a love of nature and also a passion for careful science. So many stories about how creatures in northern New England deal with winter, with careful observations about their strategies for surviving long winters. Hibernation turns out to be complex and it comes in many

varieties. Packed with details and sweet little drawings.

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LibraryThing member Treebeard_404

Well-written and containing lots of interesting content. But somehow I just don't see myself ever re-reading it. But I'll almost certainly pick up some of Heinrich's other stuff.

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