What anthropogenic pressure negates the White Sturgeon's ancient defensive adaptations?
Answer
Habitat fragmentation caused by dams and levee construction
While the White Sturgeon’s ancient biology provides robust physical defense against historical natural threats like predation, these adaptations are ineffective against modern human development pressures. Their critical reliance on large, connected river systems—which require deep, cool water for overwintering and specific gravel for spawning—makes them extremely susceptible to habitat fragmentation. The construction of dams and levees severs these essential migratory pathways, blocking access to necessary spawning grounds and overwintering areas, thereby neutralizing the benefits of their durable evolutionary design.
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