What are Bergmann’s rule’s explanation and examples? The gen | Ask Me
What are Bergmann’s rule’s explanation and examples?
The general explanation for Bergmann’s rule is attributed to the importance of the surface area to volume ratio. In order to reduce heat loss, warm-blooded animals in colder climates have an advantage in the reduction of the surface area to volume ratio.
For example, bears, wolves and foxes living in Northern parts of Eurasia are larger than sub-species from the Central and Southern Asia. Or Amur tigers from the Russian Far East are often twice larger than tigers from the Southeast Asia and Sumatra.
This phenomenon is sometimes considered a trend for animal species in general, not just warm-blooded animals.
Recent studies have indicated that turtles and salamanders also tend to follow Bergmann's rule, with exceptions concentrated within lizards and snakes.
But the generality of this rule still remains a question, as many exceptions to it are known. This reflects both the uncertainty in science and the diversity of nature.
