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Questions and Answers
What does the fundamental niche represent?
What does the fundamental niche represent?
Which statement accurately describes the realized niche?
Which statement accurately describes the realized niche?
How does competition impact the realized niche?
How does competition impact the realized niche?
What is a primary driver of niche differentiation among species?
What is a primary driver of niche differentiation among species?
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What influences the fundamental niche of a species?
What influences the fundamental niche of a species?
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How can environmental changes affect the realized niche?
How can environmental changes affect the realized niche?
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Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between fundamental and realized niches?
Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between fundamental and realized niches?
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What might happen to the realized niche if environmental factors such as climate change?
What might happen to the realized niche if environmental factors such as climate change?
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Study Notes
Fundamental Niche
- Represents the entire range of conditions and resources that a species could potentially occupy and use, without competition from other species.
- It's a theoretical concept, based on the species' physiological tolerances, resource requirements, and reproductive rate.
- Imagines an ideal scenario where no other species is present, and the species can exploit all available resources.
- Considered the potential space that a species can occupy, in the absence of biotic interactions.
- Influenced by factors like climate, availability of food, water, and shelter.
Realized Niche
- Represents the actual conditions and resources that a species does occupy and use, in the presence of competition and other interactions with other species.
- Often smaller than the fundamental niche, as species are forced to adjust their use of resources or habitats due to competition, predation, and other biotic interactions.
- A response to the presence of other species and the limitations imposed on resource use.
- Reflects the specific niche a species actually occupies, as it is actively shaped by species interactions.
- Determined by the species' abilities, and the competitive exclusion of other species.
Relationship between Fundamental and Realized Niches
- The realized niche is a subset of fundamental niche.
- Competition is a primary driver of niche differentiation; species compete for shared resources, leading to niche partitioning and specialization.
- Predation or other interspecific interactions can create additional limitations, constraining a species to a more restricted portion of the potential niche.
- The realized niche is dynamic, and can evolve over time as conditions and species interactions change.
- The niche breadth of a given species in any given environment is limited by the fundamental niche and narrowed to the realized niche due to the interactions in its existence within that environment.
- In the event of environmental changes, the realized niche may expand (if competitive pressure is reduced), or contract further if environmental factors such as climate or resource limitation change.
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Description
Explore the concepts of fundamental and realized niches in ecology. This quiz covers the theoretical potential of species habitats versus the actual conditions they occupy due to competition and biotic interactions. Understand the key factors that influence these ecological concepts.
