Undercover - the effect of ice on trophic interactions between native and invasive fishes in Arctic lakes

We aim to uncover the effects of reduced ice cover, a consequence of climate change, on native (cold adapted) and invasive (cool adapted) fish in Arctic lakes. The study incorporates 3 hypotheses:
1. Reduced pelagic production in winter results in an increased reliance on benthic prey, decreasing overall food web size;
2. The reduction of pelagic resources in winter leads to an increase in niche overlap between native and invasive species;
3. Native species show greater adaption (higher foraging activity, condition & wider habitat use) under winter conditions than invasive species.