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Q48·GS Paper 1 · Prelims 2014

Ecological Niche Definition

EnvironmentEcology and EcosystemsFactual singleMediumStatic

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

a

Ecotone

b

Ecological niche

Answer
c

Habitat

d

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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