This post was written by QBIC sophomore, Brianna Almeida.
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Layman CA., Allgeier JE.(2012) Characterizing trophic
ecology of generalist consumers: a case study of the invasive lionfish in The
Bahamas. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 448:131-141
Generalist
species are organisms that have a wide range of diet and habitat. As a result,
many invasive species are also generalist species. Invasive species are able to
colonize new habitat, usually through human activities, and alter the food web
by consuming the native species of that habitat. Native or endemic species are
usually specialist species which specialize in obtaining one type of food
source. This causes competition with endemic predators, resulting in the
generalists being the “winner species”. This spread of generalist species is
known as biotic homogenization.
