Ecological niche definition
Question
Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms? (a) Ecotone (b) Ecological niche (c) Habitat (d) Home range
Options
Ecotone
Ecological niche
Habitat
Home range
Explanation
Ecological niche is a comprehensive concept that includes both the physical space (microhabitat) and the functional role of an organism within an ecosystem. It encompasses what an organism eats, where it lives, when it is active, and how it interacts with other organisms. Habitat (option c) refers only to the physical location where an organism lives. Ecotone (option a) is a transition zone between two different ecosystems. Home range (option d) is the area an animal travels within for feeding and other activities. Only ecological niche combines both spatial and functional aspects. > Niche = Habitat + Role (job/function) in ecosystem. Each species has unique niche.
Question details
Year
2013
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q48
Subject
Environment
Sub-topic
Ecology and ecosystems
Type
Factual single
Difficulty
Easy
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Biology - Ecology and Ecosystems
See all questions on Ecology and ecosystems
Browse every tagged question across all years