August Dehnel


August Dehnel s. Michała was a Polish zoologist, Ph.D., professor. Until 1949 he signed his popular science and embryology works with the name Gustaw Dehnel.
Denhel is credited with discovering that the braincase of shrews shrinks significantly over the winter and expands again in the spring. This fact has come to be known as the Dehnel phenomenon. It affects not only the brain, but also other major organs such as the liver and kidneys. This factor explains why such small animals can survive harsh winters with associated reduction in food availability. The phenomenon may be responsible for the preservation of certain rare populations such as the Suisun Shrew. For this discovery, reported in his habilitation thesis at the University of Warsaw, he received the State Award.

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