<P> A generalist species is able to thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and can make use of a variety of different resources (for example, a heterotroph with a varied diet). A specialist species can thrive only in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet . Most organisms do not all fit neatly into either group, however . Some species are highly specialized (the most extreme case being monophagy), others less so, and some can tolerate many different environments . In other words, there is a continuum from highly - specialized to broadly - generalist species . </P> <P> Omnivores are usually generalists . Herbivores are often specialists, but those that eat a variety of plants may be considered generalists . A well - known example of a specialist animal is the koala, which subsists almost entirely on eucalyptus leaves . The raccoon is a generalist because it has a natural range that includes most of North and Central America, and it is omnivorous, eating berries, insects, butterflies (Hackberry Emperor, for example), eggs and small animals . Monophagous organisms feed exclusively, or nearly so, on a single other species . </P> <P> The distinction between generalists and specialists is not limited to animals . For example, some plants require a narrow range of temperatures, soil conditions and precipitation to survive while others can tolerate a broader range of conditions . A cactus could be considered a specialist species . It will die during winters at high latitudes or if it receives too much water . </P>

What advantage do organisms in food web have over those in a food chain