Questions and Answers
What is an ecological niche?
A niche describes how an organism fits into the environment, including where it lives and what it does there.
What does a niche include?
All abiotic and biotic conditions required for the organism to survive, reproduce and maintain a viable population.
No two species can occupy exactly the same niche.
True
What happens when populations of two species occupy the same niche?
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What occurs to the population of the advantaged species?
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Complete removal of one of the two species occurs under any condition.
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What is the competitive exclusion principle?
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No two species can occupy the same niche indefinitely when resources are limited.
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Study Notes
Ecological Niche Overview
- An ecological niche defines how an organism interacts with its environment and encompasses its habitat and role.
- It includes the requirements for survival, reproduction, and population maintenance both from biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements.
Competition and Niche Occupation
- The principle of competitive exclusion states that no two species can occupy the exact same niche simultaneously.
- When two species share the same niche, one will generally outcompete the other, leading to a population increase in the more advantageous species.
Competitive Exclusion Principle
- As the advantageous species thrives, the less successful species will experience a decline in its population.
- Persistent competition can result in the complete extinction of one species within the shared niche if conditions do not change.
Resource Utilization in Competition
- In scenarios of limited resources, the species that more efficiently utilizes those resources is likely to eliminate its competitor.
- This dynamic highlights the importance of resource allocation in ecological communities and species interactions.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of ecological niches, focusing on how organisms interact with their environments and the implications of competition. It covers the principles of competitive exclusion and resource utilization, highlighting the dynamics of species populations. Test your knowledge on these fundamental ecological concepts!