What secondary benefit do the crushed shell byproducts from the drum's hard-shelled diet provide to other fish species?
Answer
They can create useful spawning substrate for game fish
The crushed shell material resulting from the drum's constant bottom feeding can actually create useful spawning substrate, benefiting game fish such as smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Related Questions
What specialized feature located deep in the throat allows the freshwater drum to crush hard-shelled prey?What constitutes the staple diet for adult freshwater drum?What food source makes up approximately 50 percent of the drum's intake during late spring (April and May)?Between August and November, what type of prey becomes a significant switch in the freshwater drum's diet?What paradoxical characteristic is noted about the drum's meat following its seasonal reliance on oily baitfish?What do young freshwater drum primarily consume during their first year of life?At what approximate length do freshwater drums generally start consuming zebra mussels?What physical activity do drums often engage in to uncover hidden food morsels on the bottom?Despite their predation on zebra mussels, what is noted about the drum's ability to control this invasive species?What secondary benefit do the crushed shell byproducts from the drum's hard-shelled diet provide to other fish species?