3 niche and adaptations

• What is a niche? The role of an organism in its ecosystem, including its habitat, interactions (biotic and abiotic), and how it obtains its resources.
• What factors determine an organism’s niche? Abiotic factors (e.g. temperature, light, pH) and biotic factors (e.g. competition, predation).
• Define ecological niche. The way an organism exploits its environment including food, behavior, and interactions.
• What is meant by adaptation? A feature that increases the chance of survival and reproduction in a particular environment.
• What are the three types of adaptations? Anatomical, behavioral, and physiological.
• Give an example of an anatomical adaptation. Thick fur in Arctic foxes to reduce heat loss.
• Give an example of a behavioral adaptation. Migration of birds to avoid cold winters.
• Give an example of a physiological adaptation. Production of antifreeze proteins in fish living in sub-zero waters.
• What is the competitive exclusion principle? No two species can occupy exactly the same niche; one will outcompete the other.
• How does natural selection lead to adaptation? Individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce, passing those traits on to offspring.
• Why do species occupying similar niches compete? They rely on the same resources, leading to interspecific competition.
• What is meant by interspecific competition? Competition between individuals of different species for the same resource.
• What is meant by intraspecific competition? Competition between individuals of the same species for limited resources.
• How can adaptations become more common in a population? Through natural selection – advantageous alleles increase in frequency over generations.
• Why is understanding a species’ niche important for conservation? Helps identify habitat requirements and threats, aiding effective protection strategies.
• What is a realized niche? The actual conditions and resources a species uses in the presence of competitors.
• What is a fundamental niche? The full range of environmental conditions and resources an organism could use in the absence of competition.