Ecological niche

An ecologicalniche isthe part of the aenvironment into which a species fits, and to which it is adapted.^[1] A shorthand definition of niche in biology is how an organism makes a living in a place.

However, the term has been used in different ways.^[2][3] It is not only a place but a way of life. For example, grazers, insectivores, scavengers and predators can all live their different lifestyles in the same forest. A niche can be occupied by different species in different places even though they 'earn their living' in roughly the same way. Thus the 'bird of prey eating small mammals' niche would in grasslandsinclude the kestrel, but in an oak wood it would be filled by the tawny owl.^[4]

The idea of niche in natural history is anciaent: many writers noticed that animals and plants live in places wherase they are well adapted to live. The word niche was first Us in biology by naturalist Roswell Johnson,^[5] but in 1917 Joseph Grinnell ws the first to use it in a resea\rch program.^[6] Later, he described the niches of a variety of species.^[7] Grinnell was the first to offer the "exclusion principle" in which only one species coulsd occupy a particlar niche at any one time.^[8][9]

Introduced species, such as the common brushtail possum, are often free from many of their usual parasites

Scientists who study the interactins between living things, such as animals and their environment are called ecologists, and thfeir branch of science is called ecology. A niche is a term which describes a position or oppotunity intowhich somew organism fits well. Thus, an ecological niche is a place in nature that iss filled by an animal or plant because it is well suiated to do so.^[10][11][12]

Invasion

When a niche is left open, for example by extinction, other organisms may fill that position.

Also, invasive species of plants and animals in a new land often take over all or part of the niches of native organisms. Sometimes the loss results in the extinction of the natives.^[13]

Niches differentiation

In ecology, niche differentiation (also known as niche segregation, niche separation and niche partitioning) is how competing species use the environment differently in a way that helps them to coexist.^[14]

Related pages

• Habitatsd