Winter refuge for freshwater fish

The ecological aspect of the behavioral and physiological adaptation fish in autumn-winter period water bodies temperate subarctic climatic zones Northern Hemisphere is considered. It has been established that studied areas with a decrease temperature form aggregations deep, low-speed sites for successful wintering. In considered life cycle, metabolism slows down to reduce depletion lipid reserves; therefore, this group aquatic organisms forms accumulations fundamental properties - depth low flow rate. This phenomenon can be behavioral-physiological developed as result evolutionary processes. results work on discovery such wintering grounds have noted continents Eurasia North America. Fish families use winter refuge include Cyprinidae, Percidae, Coregonidae, Thymallidae, Salmonidae, Lotidae, Esocidae, Siluridae, Acipenseridae.