n. in animal behavior, refers to an adaptation to the environment and all its existing conditions. Specifically, it applies to the sourcing and storing of food, the selection of a mate, the choice of a habitat, and other reponses which make an organism more competitive. As seen in highly-endangered species, however, specialization (being specialists) tends to make the organism respond more slowly to a changing environment.
BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIZATION: "It is in the Galapagos Goup of islands where one can see a variety of species which have adapted to their environment through behavioral specialization."
Cite this page: N., Pam M.S., "BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIZATION," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 7, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/behavioral-specialization/ (accessed May 8, 2021).
