What capability development allows white sharks to incorporate marine mammals without ceasing fish consumption?
Answer
Continuous expansion of capability
There is a common misconception that white sharks undergo a sudden or sharp dietary shift around the 3-meter mark, implying they stop eating fish entirely once they can tackle marine mammals. However, scientific evidence suggests a more nuanced process: a continuous expansion of the shark's capabilities. As the shark increases in size and gains the requisite jaw strength, it adds larger, higher-calorie food sources, such as marine mammals, to its existing menu. They do not cease consuming fish; rather, their dietary scope widens to include these new, highly rewarding prey types as they become physically capable of successful predation upon them, maximizing energy acquisition throughout their growth.
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