Ecological niche as the role of a species in an ecosystem
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Question
What is an ecological niche?
Answer
The **role** a species plays in its ecosystem — its **abiotic tolerances**, its **food source** and its **interactions** with other species.
Question
What three things describe a niche?
Answer
**Abiotic tolerances** (e.g. temperature, oxygen), the **food/energy source**, and **interactions** with other species.
Question
What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?
Answer
A **habitat** is *where* an organism lives (its 'address'); a **niche** is its *role* — how it lives (its 'job').
Question
Can two species share a habitat but have different niches?
Answer
**Yes** — e.g. two fish in the same lake that feed on different foods have the same habitat but different niches.
Question
Define an abiotic factor.
Answer
A **non-living** physical condition of the environment, such as temperature, oxygen, light or pH.
Question
Define a biotic factor.
Answer
A **living** influence on an organism, such as predators, prey, competitors or partner species.
Question
What is a tolerance range?
Answer
The range of an abiotic factor (e.g. temperature) within which a species can **survive and grow**.
Question
What is the fundamental niche?
Answer
The **full** range of conditions and resources a species **could** occupy if there were **no competitors**.
Question
What is the realized niche?
Answer
The **smaller** part of the fundamental niche a species **actually** occupies once **competitors** are present.
Question
Why is the realized niche smaller than the fundamental niche?
Answer
Because **competition** restricts the species to part of its potential range (the start of competitive exclusion).
Question
How should you answer a niche question using a data table?
Answer
**Read the data** (e.g. temperature ranges) and deduce from the numbers — do not answer from general memory of the species.
Question
Why might a small fish be more abundant among submerged plants than floating plants?
Answer
Submerged plants are part of its niche — they provide **more shelter from predators** and **more food**, so the fish survives better there.
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Topic 2.10 hub
Ecological niches
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