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 refers to the complete role and position of an organism within its environment, including its physical location AND its functional relationships (feeding, reproduction, interactions). Option (a) Ecotone is a transition zone between two ecosystems. Option (c) Habitat refers only to the physical place where an organism lives, not its functional role. Option (d) Home range is the area an animal travels within for survival. Only ecological niche encompasses both physical space AND functional role in the community. Niche is broader than habitat. > Niche = Physical Space + Functional Role. Answer: (b).
Question details
Year
2014
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q48
Subject
Environment
Sub-topic
Ecology and Ecosystems
Type
Factual single
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Static
Source hint
NCERT Biology - Ecology
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