Studying mammals: The opportunists

Many mammals are food specialists, with complex adaptations that gear them toward a particular food source. So how do the omnivores survive and prosper without these fancy evolutionary features? This free course, Studying mammals: The opportunists, examines the physiology, diet and strategies of some of these opportunistic feeders. It is the sixth course in the Studying mammals series.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 The omnivores
• 1 The omnivores
• 2 The ecology of mammals
• 2 The ecology of mammals
• 2.1 Trophic levels
• 2.2 Energy flow in ecosystems
• 2.3 Food chains and food webs
• 3 Is specialisation always advantageous?
• 3 Is specialisation always advantageous?
• 4 The bear necessities
• 4 The bear necessities
• 4.1 The grizzly bear
• 4.2 Other members of the bear family
• 5 Miss Piggy
• 5 Miss Piggy
• 6 The good family Procyonidae
• 6 The good family Procyonidae
• 7 Of rats and men
• 7 Of rats and men
• 8 What makes a successful omnivore?
• 8 What makes a successful omnivore?
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements