biology - 5ai - niche Flashcards
1
Q
What is an ecological niche?
A
A multi-dimensional summary of tolerances and requirements of a species.
2
Q
What does a species have that it occupies in the absence of any interspecific competition?
A
A fundamental niche.
3
Q
When is a realised niche occupied?
A
In response to interspecific competition.
4
Q
What can occur as a result of interspecific competition?
A
Competitive exclusion can occur, where the niches of two species are so similar that one declines to local extinction.
5
Q
What can co-exist where the realised niches are sufficiently different?
A
Potential competitors can co-exist by resource partitioning.
