Ice Phenology in the North Temperate LakesIn the north temperate lakes, year-to-year variation in ice-off date is 5x greater now than 60 years ago. In fact, 2021 was one of the earliest ice-off years in recent times, which 2022 followed by being one of the latest. Additionally, the average day of ice-off has shifted 5 days earlier over the past 100 years.
Earlier ice-off means warmer waters. Warmer waters mean changing habitat. Changing habitats mean changes to the biotic community. On top of that, changes in the population of one species can affect every other species they interact with. This is known as a trophic cascade. We are investigating these changes to the biotic community to better understand the species that are most affected by this increasing unpredictability of the seasons. Related Reading:
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