How does the diet of a White Sturgeon fundamentally change when transitioning from the juvenile phase to the adult phase?
Answer
The focus shifts from small benthic invertebrates to larger prey like fish and crayfish.
The transition between life stages marks a dramatic escalation in prey size capability. During the juvenile phase, the sturgeon expands its diet from initial plankton to include small benthic invertebrates and insect larvae that fit its developing mouth. However, upon reaching significant adult size, the feeding strategy transforms substantially. The focus pivots almost entirely away from these smaller items towards consuming much larger, more energy-dense life forms. This typically means an incorporation of larger invertebrates, such as crayfish, and the consumption of substantial prey like entire fish species.
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