In their yellow eel stage, what is the primary ecological role of the American eel in freshwater ecosystems?
Answer
Opportunistic predators of bottom-dwelling invertebrates and small fish
In their yellow eel stage, American eels function as highly effective, opportunistic predators, consuming a variety of bottom-dwelling invertebrates, crustaceans, and smaller fish, which helps regulate other populations.
Related Questions
What term describes the American eel's life cycle of living in freshwater and spawning in saltwater?Where does the entire adult population of the American eel migrate to spawn and subsequently die?While the American eel's body appears scaleless, what is factually true about its scales?What is the name given to the tiny larvae of the American eel that drift on ocean currents after hatching?During which life stage does the American eel spend the majority of its life, sometimes for decades, growing and feeding in rivers?Which physiological change occurs in the silver eel stage, preparing it for the oceanic migration?Besides swimming upstream, what unique method can American eels employ to bypass short, low barriers or reach isolated ponds?In their yellow eel stage, what is the primary ecological role of the American eel in freshwater ecosystems?Beyond the Atlantic coastal river systems, where else in North America can American eels be found, demonstrating their upstream adaptability?What is cited as a major factor severely impacting the American eel population by restricting movement between feeding grounds and spawning grounds?