Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes an ecological niche?
Which of the following best describes an ecological niche?
- The genetic adaptations that allow an organism to survive in a particular environment.
- The physical space an organism inhabits.
- The climate conditions that determine where an organism can live.
- The specific role an organism plays in its ecosystem, including its use of resources and interactions with other species. (correct)
Which factor is NOT a component in determining a species' ecological niche?
Which factor is NOT a component in determining a species' ecological niche?
- Presence of food required to survive.
- The species' evolutionary history prior to inhabiting the ecosystem. (correct)
- Suitability to abiotic factors.
- Availability of resources to live.
What is the key difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche?
What is the key difference between a fundamental niche and a realized niche?
- There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable.
- A fundamental niche is the potential ecological space an organism can occupy, while a realized niche is the actual space it occupies considering competition. (correct)
- A fundamental niche is smaller than a realized niche.
- A fundamental niche includes biotic factors, while a realized niche only considers abiotic factors.
Which example demonstrates resource partitioning?
Which example demonstrates resource partitioning?
In the context of ecological niches, what does 'niche overlap' refer to?
In the context of ecological niches, what does 'niche overlap' refer to?
Which of the following is the most likely outcome of significant niche overlap between two species?
Which of the following is the most likely outcome of significant niche overlap between two species?
The competitive exclusion principle states that:
The competitive exclusion principle states that:
Consider two bird species that both feed on insects in the same forest. Species A forages primarily on tree trunks, while Species B forages in the canopy. This is an example of:
Consider two bird species that both feed on insects in the same forest. Species A forages primarily on tree trunks, while Species B forages in the canopy. This is an example of:
A species of plant can grow in a wide range of soil pH levels, but in the presence of a competitor, it is restricted to a narrow range of alkaline soils. This is an example of the difference between:
A species of plant can grow in a wide range of soil pH levels, but in the presence of a competitor, it is restricted to a narrow range of alkaline soils. This is an example of the difference between:
Two species of barnacles coexist on rocks in the intertidal zone. One species lives in the upper intertidal zone and is more resistant to desiccation, while the other lives in the lower intertidal zone and is more efficient at competition. What explains this distribution?
Two species of barnacles coexist on rocks in the intertidal zone. One species lives in the upper intertidal zone and is more resistant to desiccation, while the other lives in the lower intertidal zone and is more efficient at competition. What explains this distribution?
How might climate change affect the ecological niches of species?
How might climate change affect the ecological niches of species?
Two species of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands have beaks of different sizes. This allows them to feed on different sized seeds. Which ecological principle does this best illustrate?
Two species of Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands have beaks of different sizes. This allows them to feed on different sized seeds. Which ecological principle does this best illustrate?
Which of the the following statements outlines the relationship between abiotic factors and ecological niches:
Which of the the following statements outlines the relationship between abiotic factors and ecological niches:
How is the realised niche shown in the diagram on page 8?
How is the realised niche shown in the diagram on page 8?
How is the competitive exclusion principle seen in the diagram on page 9?
How is the competitive exclusion principle seen in the diagram on page 9?
Flashcards
Ecological Niche
Ecological Niche
The sum of a species' use of biotic and abiotic resources in its environment, including its functional role (behaviour) in the ecosystem.
Niche Determination
Niche Determination
Determined by factors such as suitability to abiotic conditions, food availability, necessary resources, and competition.
Fundamental Niche
Fundamental Niche
The potential niche a species can occupy based on its adaptations, without competition.
Realized Niche
Realized Niche
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Resource Partitioning
Resource Partitioning
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Competitive Exclusion Principle
Competitive Exclusion Principle
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Niche Overlap
Niche Overlap
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Habitat
Habitat
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Study Notes
Ecological Niches
- Ecological niches are the ecological roles occupied by a species within an ecosystem.
- Investigating and determining the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem includes understanding the ecological niches occupied by various species.
What is an Ecological Niche?
- A niche is the sum of a species' use of biotic and abiotic resources in its environment, including its functional role (behavior) in the ecosystem.
- A niche is the habitat where an organism is found, containing all the resources it uses and the jobs it performs in that area.
- A species' ecological niche is determined by its suitability to the abiotic factors, the presence of food required to survive and be collected/consumed, the resources available to live, and if there are other species to compete with.
- Ecological niches include how a species behaves in its environment.
- Ecological niches include all the factors that the species needs to survive, remain healthy, and reproduce.
Fundamental and Realised Niche
- A fundamental niche is where an organism has the potential to exist based on their adaptations in the absence of competition.
- It is the set of environmental conditions needed for a specifies to survive without interacting with other species.
- A realised niche is the area an organism actually occupies as a result of competition from other species.
- The realised niche is located within the fundamental niche and still contains all the biotic and abiotic factors needed for survival.
Separation of Niches
- Niches are often separated to avoid competition for resources.
- Resource partitioning occurs when different species, often from the same genus (interspecific competition), live near each other with some overlap of niches and use slightly different resources to avoid competition for the one limited resource.
Niche Overlap
- Niche overlap occurs within ecosystems when two species share parts of their niche with each other.
- If the overlap is small, interactions are manageable; a large overlap may cause conflict.
The Competitive Exclusion Principle
- Two species cannot occupy the same niche; if they do, they will try to eliminate one another through competition.
- If two species try to occupy the same niche, one species will eventually gain a competitive edge over the other.
- The less favorable species will either become extinct in the local environment, or natural selection will lead to a divergence of traits (character displacement).
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