6/23/2023 0 Comments Covered by water drift![]() ![]() Some fish species also enter “diapause,” meaning a period with an extremely low heartrate. Because there are limited amounts of food available in the winter, fish move slower and stop growing to use less energy. While many animals such as squirrels and woodchucks have the advantage of stockpiling food in the winter, fish have had to adapt in other ways to cold temperatures. Lake and stream restoration work typically includes the installation of logs since fish often use them as habitat all year long. Stable ice, rocky crevices, or plants, logs and dead trees are all different forms of shelter that are used by fish in the winter. ![]() If a fish finds itself near an ice jam, it can lead to death or spending valuable energy to escape. Some species also burrow into the lakebed for warmth.įish living in streams also seek out different types of habitats in the winter due to the unpredictable nature of ice jams. This phenomenon causes some species to school near the lake bottom to take advantage of the slightly warmer water. Lake water next to the ice is colder and less dense than the water near the bottom of the lake. One way fish do this is by slowing down their metabolism and resting. They must modify their behavior to maintain their core temperature and survive. Fish are cold-blooded, meaning their temperature is regulated by outside influences such as temperature. Similar to how our behavior changes in the winter, fish also behave differently with the climate around them. How do fish survive Michigan’s harsh winters? ![]() Many think that fish and other animals living under the ice would struggle to survive – but the reality is, many aquatic animals like fish have adapted to our cold Michigan winters in a variety of interesting ways. Meanwhile, as the daylight hours dwindle, our lakes and rivers drop in temperature and begin to ice over. Many animals act similarly during the winter, with some burrowing into nooks and crannies in the woods and others entering hibernation. Winter is right around the corner and with that comes cozy blankets, hot chocolate and nestling inside the comforts of our home. ![]()
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