Question

ice provide thermal insulation to aquatic life​

Answer 1

When lakes and ponds freeze, the ice on the surface forms pockets of air and helps insulate the water so it doesn't freeze solid. ... Ice helps protect most aquatic plants and animals throughout the winter months. As ice melts in spring, it absorbs heat from the environment to slowly change its state back to liquid.

Answer 2

The heat lost from the water to the atmosphere must be taken from the latent heat released when ice is formed, since the water just below the ice is at the freezing point. Due to this thermal insulation, water at the bottom of the lake does not freeze or the thickness of ice decreases on moving down the lake.