Why do white crappie exhibit a clear preference for larger meals like a single minnow over many small zooplankters?

The minnow provides significantly more calories for less energy expended chasing multiple tiny items

Although white crappie are frequently characterized as opportunistic feeders, they possess clear preferences rooted in maximizing energy return versus energy expenditure. While a fish can catch a small zooplankter with minimal effort, the resulting caloric intake is low. In contrast, pursuing and catching a struggling minnow requires more energy, but that single meal yields significantly more concentrated calories. This higher caloric density is essential for supporting the growth rate and maintaining spawning condition. Consequently, as the crappie matures, its required threshold for an acceptable meal escalates in both size and overall caloric value; one substantial shad is often preferred over consuming twenty small insect larvae to achieve satiety.