How long until a female white sturgeon typically reaches sexual maturity?
Answer
Around 20 years old
One of the defining characteristics that makes the white sturgeon vulnerable to ecological pressures is its exceptionally long life cycle coupled with very slow maturation rates. Specifically, females require a considerable amount of time to develop reproductive capability, often not reaching sexual maturity until they are approximately 20 years of age. Males mature slightly earlier, typically around 15 years of age. This substantial lag time means that any loss of mature individuals due to external factors, such as heavy fishing pressure, results in a recovery deficit that spans multiple decades before a new generation of large, reproducing females can be established.
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