What term describes the phenomenon where a Yellow Perch population remains smaller than others in the same geographic area?
Answer
Stunting
A common ecological challenge faced by Yellow Perch populations across various waters is the phenomenon known as stunting. Stunting refers to a situation where a particular population fails to reach the typical maximum growth potential seen in other populations geographically nearby. This growth limitation is often exacerbated within dense schools where intense competition for limited resources, such as plankton which forms a major part of their early diet, restricts the energy available for substantial size increases, even if the individuals possess the physiological capacity for larger development.

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