Dietary opportunism does not preclude any organisms that subscribe to such a tendency from having preferences, even strong preferences, that can and do vary on a temporal scale.

There is nothing wrong with claiming monitors as opportunists any more than claiming grizzly bears (which also eat tons of things yet vary them specifically throughout the year according to many factors) as such, meaning, break "opportunist" down further and we're arguing nuances of a word to the point that any meanings become very hazey. Perhaps we can clarify still. Based on your observations, many monitors show themselves to be facultative opportunists rather than obligate opportunists. Then again, do we really know of any species that is an obligate opportunist (i.e., no preferences allowed)?

With regards to mention of set-point temps, a set-point temp is not a single measurement (i.e., a "set" temperature); it's a set of measurments within a range - an animal's optimal operational temperatures (e.g., from 30.2-34.7C), and it was this that I was referring to with regards to the importance of basking provisions within captivity (allowing the animal to achieve temps within the set-point range on it's own, rather than giving it one arbitrary measurment in the middle to facilitate optimal metabolic processes). If the animal wanted to fall below all set-point temps (towards the bottom of the total temp range used, thus slowing many body functions to achieve a standard metabolic rate), all it would have to do is withdraw from basking. I thought I made clear, the ability to pursue temp regulation-for-efficient metabolism (i.e., behavioral linkage with metabolism) factor in the first post.

I didn't think that initial post was very cohesive when I hit the submit button, but then, I only hit the submit button because I figured it just might get some people thinking about those principles (again, not theories) I made mention of within it, applied to a captive agenda. Fortunately, it did here. This post of yours, although it mistook a couple of parts of mine and (from my take) over-scrutinized the meaning of opportunist, was very cohesive and will hopefully be noticed by a sufficient number of readers. I enjoyed it. Thanks.

[ Show Entire Thread ]