Nov 16 2009
Specialist vs Generalist
Now i understand that Generalist species can easily “adapt” to a change in environment an the food it eats, where specialist species focus more on one specific method of eating or have a specific need of one type of food. Like a Panda bear is a specialist because it only eats bamboo shoots. But a Snakehead for example, i know as stated in the article that it is quick to “adapt” to a change in environment. It will eat more than just one type of fish, however, it specializes in preying on fish. It has evolved a large mouth, and rows of sharp teeth to exclusively eat fish. does this make it a Specialist species, because it only preys on fish? or a Generalist species, because it can adapt to more than one environment?
I would say that the snakehead is more of a generalist because it does not depend on one specific species for survival; that is, even though it only eats fish, it would have to kill off every type of fish in the river for it to run out of that resource. Plus, if we were to just dump a bunch of panda bears in North America, they would quickly die off because they are missing their primary food source, while snakeheads appear to thrive in most environments.
Well said, Syd. Just because you have a useful adaptation does not make you a specialist. The concept is more related to realized niche than what you are trying to do with it, Alex.