Final answer:
The tiger salamander is a specialist species that relies on specific breeding habitats and lives near seasonal freshwater wetlands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tiger salamander is an example of a specialist species because it relies on very specific breeding habitats, living near seasonal freshwater wetlands. While it does feed on a variety of small freshwater invertebrates, its dependence on specific breeding habitats makes it a specialist rather than a generalist. The tiger salamander is an example of a specialist species because they rely on very specific breeding habitats. Although they feed on a variety of small freshwater invertebrates, which could suggest they are generalists, the defining factor for their classification as specialists is their need for particular conditions for breeding. Tiger salamanders are known to live near seasonal freshwater wetlands, a particular type of habitat necessary for their reproduction cycles. This dependency on specific environmental conditions to complete their life cycle is characteristic of a specialist species.