Niches (L4) Flashcards
1
Q
What does a niche describe?
A
- An organism’s habitat
- Its’ role in the ecosystem
- What it eats
- What other resources it needs
- What waste it produces
- How it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors in the environment
2
Q
What is the competitive exclusion principle?
A
Many organisms can occupy the same habitat but only ONE species can occupy the same niche.
3
Q
What happens if two species try to occupy the same niche?
A
- Competition will result and only one will survive. The other will be excluded.
- One of the populations will adapt to occupy a different niche and over time this may lead to the creation of a new species.
4
Q
What does ‘fundamental niche’ mean?
A
A fundamental niche is the set of conditions within which a species can live in the absence of competitors. / the ideal niche that an organism would occupy if there was no competition.
5
Q
What is a realized niche?
A
A realized niche is the space in the environment where a species is most highly adapted to play its role and reproduce. / the actual conditions it lives in.
