Ecology: Concepts and Applications 4th Edition by Manual Molles

Exercise 7

When we reviewed how some organisms use torpor, hibernation, and estivation to avoid extreme temperatures, we discussed the idea of energy savings. However, organisms do not always behave in a way that saves energy. For instance, when food is abundant hummingbirds do not go into torpor at night. This suggests that there may be some disadvantages associated with torpor. What are some of those potential disadvantages?