What happens during winter in water?

Animals are confronted with seasonal variation in nearly all ecosystems. We are studying how fish respond physiologically and behaviorally to seasonal temperature, light and resource variation, particularly that occurring during winter under snow and ice cover.

At temperate latitudes, winters are changing more rapidly than other seasons. By studying the ecological responses to current winter conditions, we can help anticipate how warmer winters  will impact species, communities and whole ecosystems.

Winter sampling on Lake Lunz, Austria. photo: Kevin Coghill

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