Question

Suppose that the temperature in the ecosystem below dips below freezing.

What would happen to the fish swimming in the lake?

Answer 1

No effect.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the temperature of any ecosystem becomes below dips freezing, it is usual that we will see ice on the upper layer of the lakes. That means fishes and other aquatic lives will be stuck under that layer of ice. However, it does not create any problem for them. Along with fishes, oxygen also gets trapped under the ice layer. So, fish will get their required oxygen to live.

Answer 2

Ice would form on the surface of the lake and insulate the fish.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fishes will be able to survive underneath the layer of ice where the temperature of the water will be 4 degrees Celsius.

Ice will float on water because ice is less dense that water. The liquid water underneath will make the fishes survive as fishes are cold- blooded.

However, a layer of ice above will block oxygen from entering the lake as well as sunlight. As a result, many of the plants might die. Due to this, the numbers of fishes might decrease. But those fishes which are adapted to survive in such an environment will be able to reproduce.