What dietary flexibility does consuming plant material offer the white catfish during periods of low invertebrate activity?
Answer
Crucial during low invertebrate activity like winter or drought
The willingness of the white catfish to consume plant material, which includes algae, submerged vegetation, seeds, and fallen fruit, provides critical dietary flexibility. This aspect of their omnivorous diet becomes especially important during seasonal lulls or environmental stressors, such as the dead of winter or periods of drought. When populations of mobile invertebrates decline sharply or crash due to environmental conditions, the readily available, stationary plant matter serves as a vital backup food source, helping the catfish sustain its energy needs until more abundant animal prey reappears.
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