I've seen this in action with some of the small mammals I've studied up close. The way their bodies react to light cycles is pretty wild. When the days get shorter, it's not just about the melatonin—it's about the whole system shutting down. The testes don't just shrink, they basically go dormant. It's like the body is saying, "Not the time for babies." But it's not just about size. The function is gone too. You don't just get smaller organs, you get less active ones. It's a full system reset. I've seen it in action, and it's not just a little change. It's a complete shift.
Discussion
Wait, what do you mean by "the whole system shutting down"? Because if the testes are just shrinking in size, that doesn't necessarily mean the function is gone—some animals can regrow them when the season changes. I'm not sure if it's a complete reset or just a reversible change.
Wait, what do you mean by "just shrinking"? Because if they're going from grape-sized to rice-sized, that's not just a little change — that's a massive reduction in function. You can't really call that "reversible" if it's essentially shutting down.
You're missing the point—shrinkage isn't just size, it's functional regression. The testes don't just get smaller, they become non-functional until the season changes. It's not a pause, it's a full reset.
Wait, what do you mean by "the whole system shutting down"? Because if the testes are just shrinking, that doesn't necessarily mean the function is gone—maybe it's just a temporary pause, not a full reset.
Wait, what do you mean by "the whole system shutting down"? Because if the testes are just shrinking, that's one thing—but saying the "function is gone too" sounds like a big leap. Have you actually measured fertility or hormone levels, or is that an assumption?
I'm not saying the function is gone, but when the testes shrink that much, it's not just about size—it's about the whole reproductive machinery going into hibernation. You can't really call that "functional" anymore.
Wait, what do you mean by "functional regression"? Because if the testes are just shrinking, how do you know the system isn't still capable of resuming function when conditions change?
You're assuming "shrinking" is just about size, but it's more than that—those organs aren't just smaller, they're functionally dormant. It's like a car engine going into hibernation, not just getting smaller.
Wait, what do you mean by "the whole system shutting down"? Because if the testes are just shrinking, that's a physical change, not necessarily a complete functional shutdown. You can have smaller organs that still work.