Winter in water: differential responses and the maintenance of biodiversity

The ecological consequences of winter in freshwater systems are an understudied but rapidly emerging research area. Here, we argue that winter periods of reduced temperature and light (and potentially oxygen and resources) could play an underappreciated role in mediating the coexistence of species. This may be especially true for temperate and subarctic lakes, where seasonal changes in the thermal environment might fundamentally structure species interactions. With climate change already shortening ice-covered periods on temperate and polar lakes, consideration of how winter conditions shape biotic interactions is urgently needed. Using freshwater fishes in northern temperate lakes as a case study, we demonstrate how physiological trait differences (e.g., thermal preference, light sensitivity) drive differential behavioral responses to winter among competing species. Specifically, some species have a higher capacity for winter activity than others. Existing and new theory is presented t...

淡水生态系统冬季的生态效应是一个研究尚不充分但正快速兴起的前沿研究领域。本文提出，温度与光照（以及潜在的氧气与资源）水平降低的冬季时段，在调控物种共存过程中扮演着被长期低估的关键角色。这一效应在温带与亚北极湖泊中尤为突出，其水温环境的季节性变化可从根本上构建物种间的相互作用格局。当前气候变化已导致温带与极地湖泊的冰封期不断缩短，亟需深入探究冬季环境如何塑造生物群落的相互作用。本研究以北温带湖泊的淡水鱼类为案例体系，阐明了生理性状差异（如温度偏好、光照敏感性）如何驱动不同竞争物种对冬季产生差异化的行为响应。具体而言，部分物种的冬季活动能力显著高于其他类群。现有理论与全新理论将予以阐述……