Classwork Instructions: Complete the reading and answer classwork questions 1-3.
Ecological Niche: Definition, Types, Importance & Examples
Ecology is the study of the interactions between organisms and their environments, which comprise an ecosystem. The places organisms live in are called habitats. An ecological niche, in contrast, is the ecological role an organism plays within its habitat.
Ecological Niche Definition
Several branches of ecology have adopted the concept of the ecological niche.
The ecological niche describes how a species interacts within an ecosystem. The niche of a species depends on both biotic and abiotic factors, which affect the ability of a species to survive and endure.
Biotic factors affecting a species' niche include food availability and predators. Abiotic factors affecting ecological niche include temperature, landscape characteristics, soil nutrients, light and other non-living factors.
An example of an ecological niche is that of the dung beetle. The dung beetle, as its name suggests, consumes dung both in larval and adult form. Dung beetles store dung balls in burrows, and females lay eggs within them.
This allows hatched larvae immediate access to food. The dung beetle in turn influences the surrounding environment by aerating soil and rereleasing beneficial nutrients. Therefore, the dung beetle performs a unique role in its environment.
Classwork Question 1 (define): According to the reading, what is an ecologic niche?