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Nature in winter

Nature in winter

You don’t see as many animals and plants. Shrubs and trees are bare and there are few flowers. Animals are less active. Everything that moves and grows in other seasons now seems to stand still. Nature is still very much alive, but in a period of rest.

Saving energy

Growth and reproduction take energy. In wintertime, light, heat and temperatures are low. Saving energy is more important now than growing. Plants stop making new leaves and live on energy they stored earlier in the year.

Animals save energy by becoming less active or living off fat reserves. Every movement costs energy, and there is little to spare.

Below zero

When temperatures fall below zero, water becomes harder to reach. The soil can freeze, preventing plants from taking up water.

Animals have a harder time finding food. Insects are barely active and plants stop growing. For many animals, this is more challenging than the cold itself.

Where is life still most active when it is cold?

Underground

A lot is still happening underground. Dead plants and leaves form an insulating layer. The ground underneath freezes less quickly. Fungi and bacteria break down natural materials in and on the soil. This creates nutrients that plants can use later on. These natural processes continue slowly all winter long.

Strategy

Animals have different strategies to get them through the winter. Some mammals go into hibernation or rest. Others are still somewhat active, especially if the weather is mild. Birds change how they find food or fly to other places.

Which winter strategy is best depends on the animal. Body size, diet and energy reserves all play a role. There is no single solution.

Preparations

What lasts throughthe winter helps shape what the next season brings. Energy stored in plants, seeds in the soil and animals that survive the winter lay the basis for the next season. When conditions improve, these energy reserves can be used for growth and activity.

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