Ecological Niche

Ecological niche

An ecological niche is the location occupied by a given organism in a community or ecosystem. It depends on the structural adaptations, physiological reactions and behavior of the organism.

Ecological niche includes:

1. A physical niche is the space occupied by an organism.

2. A food niche is the type of food that an organism consumes.

3. Temporal niche - the time of activity of the organism.

An ecological niche allows an organism to survive and reproduce in a specific habitat. It is determined by the morphological, physiological and behavioral adaptations of the species.

For example, polar bears live in arctic regions and feed on marine animals, seals and fish. Their ecological niche includes cold climates, swimming in icy waters, and hunting seals.

Thus, an ecological niche is a set of environmental conditions and adaptations of an organism that allow it to survive in a given place in the community. It is an important characteristic of a species in an ecosystem.