In winter, the ice floats at the top of the lake and insulates the below water. It protects the plant from getting cold through the heating mechanism. Thus, option C is correct.
Insulation and the heating mechanism are the property of the water that prevents the solidification and ice formation of the water below in the lake. The ice created at the surface of the water act as a film.
The ice film provides protection to the aquatic plants from the cold as the temperature below the ice is warm and protects the plants from getting frozen or dead by preventing the lake to freeze.
Therefore, the insulation provides protection to the plants.
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