Habitat vs Niche
Habitat refers to the physical environment where an organism lives, including factors like climate, vegetation, and geography. Examples of habitats include marine, forest, and coastal habitats. Whereas the niche describes the role and position of an organism within its habitat, including its interactions with other species and its utilization of resources.
In simple words, while habitat is the place where an organism lives, niche on the other hand is how an organism fits into and interacts with its habitat. To understand it better, let us take some examples: a polar bear lives in the Arctic habitat and occupies the niche of a top predator, while a koala resides in the eucalyptus forests of Australia and occupies the niche of a specialized herbivore.
Ecological Niche
Niche in ecology stands for an organism’s specific role or position within its ecosystem. The niche includes the animal’s habitat, interactions with other organisms, and its contribution to ecosystem function and stability. Understanding the niche types and examples helps us learn how different organisms interact with their environment and how ecological communities are structured. This article will cover the niche meaning, types, and examples of niches in detail.
Table of Content
- Niche Meaning in Ecology – Ecological Niche
- Habitat vs Niche
- Types of Niche
- Fundamental Niche
- Realized Niche
- Habitat or Spatial Niche
- Trophic Niche
- Multifactor or Hypervolume Niche
- Examples of Niche
- Segregation of Ecological Niche
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