Aquatic snails survive winter by becoming inactive and, in some cases, burrowing into mud or plant debris to hibernate when the water freezes.
Here's a breakdown of their overwintering strategies:
- Inactivity: Snails significantly reduce their activity levels during the colder months. This conserves energy, allowing them to survive with minimal food intake.
- Hibernation: In environments where the water freezes solid, aquatic snails often burrow into the mud or decaying plant matter at the bottom of the water body. This provides insulation and protection from the ice. They enter a state of hibernation, drastically slowing down their metabolic processes.
- Dormancy: Similar to hibernation, aquatic mussels also become dormant in winter.
Essentially, aquatic snails employ a strategy of reduced activity and physical protection to withstand the harsh conditions of winter.
