Not so much. I'm no biologist, but heavy snow cover causes darkness, and plants (weeds) consume oxygen when there is no light. The fish suffocate. An aerator causes ice to not form in portions of the lake, or produces enough oxygen to offset the depletion of oxygen. I'm not sure if the presence of an aerator induces plant grow or not, places like sibbald lake sure have alot of weeds without an aerator.