It ranges from sea level to 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) in depth.

[1] During the summer, when temperatures are below 0 °C (32 °F), it takes about 46 days to go from an egg to a stage I copepodite.

During the autumn, it accumulates lipids before entering diapause, usually as a stage IV or V copepodite.

When found in ice-covered areas, it uses the ice algae bloom to fuel reproduction.

When in primarily ice-free areas without an early ice algae bloom, it instead relies on previously collected resources to breed, making it a capital breeder in these cases.