Frozen out: unanswered questions in winter biology

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  • A.O. Sutton
    Kansas State University
  • Emily K Studd
    University of Alberta
  • Timothy Fernandes
    University of Toronto, Canada
  • Amanda E Bates
    Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • Andrew J Bramburger
    Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Steven J. Cooke
    Carleton University
  • Brian Hayden
    University of New Brunswick
  • Hugh A.L. Henry
    University of Western Ontario
  • Murray M Humphries
    McGill University, Montreal
  • Rosemary Martin
    University of Toronto, Canada
  • Bailey McMeans
    University of Toronto, Canada
  • Eric Moise
    Natural Resources Canada
  • Antoin M. O'Sullivan
    University of New Brunswick
  • Sapna Sharma
    York University, Toronto
  • Pamela H Templer
    Boston University
Winter conditions impose dramatic constraints on temperate, boreal, and polar ecosystems, and shape the abiotic and biotic interactions underpinning these systems. At high latitudes, winter can last longer than the growing season and may have a disproportionately large impact on organisms and ecosystems. Even so, our understanding of the ecological implications of winter is often lacking. Indeed, even what exactly defines winter is currently unclear, and boundaries that delineate this season are blurred across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial realms and fields of biology. Here, we discuss the complexity of defining winter, and highlight the importance of maintaining the capacity to test hypotheses across seasons, realms, and domains of life. We then outline questions drawn from diverse fields of research that address current gaps in our understanding of winter ecology and how winter influences multiple levels of biological organization, from individuals to ecosystems. Finally, we highlight the potential consequences of changes to both the length and severity of winter due to climate change, and discuss the role winter may play in mediating ecosystem function in the future.
Original languageEnglish
JournalEnvironmental Reviews
Volume29
Issue number4
Early online date20 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes
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