Omnivore
An animal that feeds on both plants and animals. Omnivores have flexible diets and generalized digestive systems capable of processing diverse food sources.
Used in the Books
This term appears in 2 chapters:
"Large-bodied lineages (dinosaurs, large mammals) went extinct. Diet breadth (generalists favored): Omnivores and generalists survive mass extinctions better than specialists. When food webs collapse, specialists dependent on particular prey or plants go exti..."
"...represented as continuous networks than as discrete levels. Species don't neatly partition into modules but form densely interconnected networks with omnivores feeding at multiple levels, detritivores consuming dead organic matter directly, and complex indirect interactions where predators affect plant commu..."
Biological Context
Omnivory provides dietary flexibility—omnivores can switch food sources based on availability. Humans, bears, pigs, and many birds are omnivores. This flexibility often correlates with behavioral flexibility and broader habitat tolerance.
Business Application
Omnivore businesses draw from multiple resource types—diverse revenue streams, varied inputs, flexible sourcing. This provides resilience but may sacrifice efficiency. Conglomerates and diversified portfolios are omnivorous strategies.