Ecological Niche

 

  • An ecological niche refers to the interrelationship of a species with all the biotic and abiotic factors affecting it
    • It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors (for example, by growing when resources are abundant, and when predators, parasites and pathogens are scarce) and how it in turn alters those same factors (for example, limiting access to resources by other organisms, acting as a food source for predators and a consumer of prey)
  • A Niche is unique for a species, which means no two species have exact identical Niches
  • If we should have to conserve species in its native habitat, we should have knowledge about the niche requirements of the species and should ensure that all requirements of its niche are fulfilled
Clarity Check: Niche vs Habitat
  • In ecology, a habitat is a place where an organism or a biological population normally (or is adapted to) live(s), reside(s), or occur(s). It may be a forest, a river, a mountain, or a dessert.
  • While habitat is a geographical place, a niche is the relationship of a species with the components of an ecosystem
  • Thus, a habitat may consist of many niches and could support various species at a given time.

Niche Formation

    • Both abiotic and biotic factors help shape the niche of an ecosystem.
      • Abiotic factors, such as temperature, climate, and soil type, of an ecosystem will help form the niches, while natural selection works to set which niches would be favoured and not.
      • Through time, the species eventually develop special features that help them adapt to their environment

Examples

    • Xerophytic plants
      • These have developed several adaptations to living in dry ecological niches
      • The adaptations have evolved to help save water stored in the plant and to prevent water loss
      • Other adaptations that xerophytic plants use include the ability to move or fold up their leaves, dropping their leaves during dry periods, a waxy coating to prevent evaporation (called the cuticle) and thick hairy leaf coverings
      • Plants usually open their stomata during the day and close them at night. Succulents do the opposite in order to reduce water loss during the heat of the day.