Surely you have heard speak or read somewhere in “ecological niche”, and you have been thinking.What is an ecological niche? Throughout this ecology article, we will explain the concept and put examples of ecological niche that will disperse the doubts about this subject.
As you can see, in the natural world there are millions of concepts that many times do not relate to what we know, but in reality we know. Therefore, we are going to clear the unknowns of everything that is possible, starting with this term of ecology.
What is an ecological niche – meaning
As I mentioned before, in the natural world and in ecology, there are numerous concepts and, often, we will confuse with each other for their similar meaning or because we do not know the nuances that differentiate them. It is perhaps what happens with the meaning of Habitat and ecological niche. Both can be confused if we are not clear about the concept of each of them. We take advantage that we want to clarify What is an ecological niche To also explain what habitat and differences between them is:
- Habitat It is the physical area or place with all its physical-environmental characteristics where the species that inhabit are found.
- Ecological niche It is the survival strategy used by a species to feed, compete with other species, avoid being attacked … that is, the ecological niche is the functional role or function of an organism within the habitat. How it acts under certain environmental conditions and in the presence of other species.
In this other ecology article, we talk to you more about the difference between habitat and ecological niche.
Main types of ecological niche
Within ECOLOGICAL NICHO There are two types well -known, such as:
- Fundamental or potential: This type of ecological niche only takes into account the physical-environmental conditions under which species have to live.
- Effective or real: This other form of niche in ecology contemplates the conditions under which a species has to subsist in the presence of others.
Relationship between habitat and ecological niche
We already know the meaning and difference of each of them. The relationship that unites them is simple, Habitat is the physical environment that houses ecological niches of the species that inhabit it. Ecological habitat and niche are closely related to the ecosystem.
The ecosystem is defined as the biological system formed by a community of living organisms, which is known as biocenosis, and also by the physical environment where these living beings are related, known as Biotope. In this other post of ecology, we explain the definition of ecosystem in a simple way.
Within the habitat species with different ecological niches. The function or niche that individuals of a species play is unique in an ecosystem, some functions or niches of species are that of pollinators, scavengers, decomposers … So far everything is fine, the conflict arises when the niche is similar, that is, the functions of two species are very similar, this would trigger competition between them.
Examples of ecological niches
Some Ecological Habitat and Niche Examples From some species we explain them below, waiting finally to clarify what we mean when we talk about habitat and ecological niche.
Giraffe (Giraffa Camelopardis)
- Location: Africa
- Habitat: Pasture, forests and open plains.
- Ecological niche: herbivorous, it feeds on the leaves of the treetops. Coexist with more species, against which it will only fight if food is scarce.
We tell you everything about the current state of this species in this other article on why the giraffe is in danger of extinction.
Kangaroo (Macropus)
- Location: Australia
- Habitat: Prairies and plain areas.
- Ecological niche: herbivorous, feeds on grass and roots.
Discover this mammal better with the information of this article about the kangaroo: where he lives and what he eats.
Green anaconda (Eunectes Marinus)
- Location: South America, especially in the Amazon.
- Habitat: Tropical jungles.
- Ecological niche: omnivorous predator, normally lodged on the ground or flooded land. Compete with crocodiles and caimanes.
Earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
- Location: All continents.
- Habitat: Earth soils.
- Ecological niche: great decomponers, improve the quality of the Earth thanks to the activity they carry out. They serve as food for birds, mammals and reptiles.
Andean condor (Vultur Gryphus)
- Location: Sudamerica.
- Habitat: Andes mountain range.
- Ecological niche: scavenging bird, helps the decomposition of the meat of dead animals. With its strong beak and claws they open the skin of animals facilitating the activity of other animals and organisms contributing to their total decomposition. Here we explain more about the Andean condor.
Blue whale (Baleonoptera musculus)
- Location: Arctic, Indian and Pacific.
- Habitat: cold water oceans.
- Ecological niche: its food is the Krill (tiny crustaceans) that are filtered along with the water. He does not have known predators except man, who has brought it almost to extinction. Know more about this cetacean in this other article on why the blue whale is in danger of extinction.
Once some examples have been shown, we hope that it has been possible to understand what an ecological niche is. We do not close this article without remembering the important functions of each of the organisms that inhabit the planet, we must fight for its conservation if we do not want to end up in the same place that they are ending, because of the human being and their actions with a negative impact.
If you want to read more articles similar to What is an ecological niche and exampleswe recommend that you enter our category of other ecology.
