ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Bergmann's rule

Bergmann's Rule is a scientific rule that states that animals who live in colder environments, like the Arctic or the tundra, tend to be bigger in size than animals who live in warmer environments like the tropics.

Think of it this way: imagine you live in a really cold place, like Alaska. It's so cold that you need thick clothes and blankets to keep warm. Animals living in this environment also need ways to stay warm, and one way to do this is by having a bigger body mass. The bigger an animal is, the less cold it will feel because it has more fat and muscle to keep it warm.

But if you live in a warm place, like Hawaii, you don't need as much fat and muscle to stay warm. So animals in these environments tend to be smaller in size because they don't need as much body mass to keep warm.

So in summary, Bergmann's Rule is a scientific concept that says animals living in colder environments tend to be bigger in size to help them stay warm, while animals living in warmer environments tend to be smaller in size because they don't need as much body mass to stay warm.
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