B.4.2 Ecological Niches

niche

describes the functional position and role of an organism within its environment; consists of all biotic and abiotic interactions that influence growth, survival and reproduction

abiotic

habitat in which an organism lives and the resources within the environment (light, temperature)

biotic

activity patterns of the organism and its interactions with other species (competition, predation)

competitive exclusion

one species uses the resources more efficiently, driving the other species to local extinction

resource partitioning

both species alter their use of the habitat to divide resources between them (niche separation)

fundamental niche

the entire set of conditions under which an organism can survive and reproduce (where it could live); the theoretical habitat; may not be fully occupied due to the presence of competing species

realised niche

the set of conditions used by an organism after including interactions with other species (where it lives); the actual habitat; completely occupied by an organism in the presence of competing species