Habitat Vs. Niche
Habitat
Habitat “where it lives”
Evolutionary History
Environmental
Requirements
tolerances
Niche
Not just the habitat!
How organisms
interact with the
abiotic & biotic
factors, to survive
and reproduce.
“Factors” and the Niche
Abiotic
NON-Living
Biotic
Things that are or have
been “ ALIVE”
Rain, Snow, pH
Bodies of water (or lack of)
Temperature Hot/Cold
Determines when/how the
organisms reproduces
All about the food it eats
and the way it is obtained
1
“HABITAT / Fundamental Niche”
“Optimum / Realized Niche”
The organism experiences stress
More energy to maintain homeostasis
Less energy left for growth and reproduction.
Generalists vs. Specialists
Generalists
Virginia Opossum
Bro a d niche
To lera te wide ra ng e o f
co nditio ns
Use a v a riety o f reso urces
Generalists vs. Specialists
Koala
Specialists
Na rro w niche
Do no t to lera te a wide ra ng e
o f co nditio ns
Use o nly a few reso urces
2
Acclimation
Definition of acclimation
Some organisms can adjust
their tolerance to abiotic
factors
Wha t is the difference between
a cclima tio n a nd a da pta tio n?
Acclima tio n – Occurs within the
lifetime o f a n indiv idua l o rg a nism
Ada pta tio n – Genetic cha ng e in a
species o r po pula tio n, o ccurs o v er
ma ny g enera tio ns
Conformers vs. Regulators
Conformers
(Ectotherms, Cold-blooded)
Organisms that do not
regulate their internal
conditions
Change as the external
environment changes
Regulators
(Endotherms, Warm-blooded)
Organisms that use energy to
control some of their internal
conditions
Keep an internal condition
within the optimal range over
a wide variety of
environmental conditions
Escape from Unsuitable Conditions
Dormancy
State of reduced activity
Occurs during periods of
unfavorable environmental
conditions
Migration
Organism wants to escape
unfavorable conditions
Move to a more favorable
habitat
3
Resources
Definition of resources
The energy and materials a
species needs to survive in
an environment
Wha t determines the surv iva l o f a
species in a pa rticula r ha bita t?
Suita bility o f env iro nmenta l
co nditio ns
Av a ila bility o f reso urces
Fo o d, energ y nesting sites, wa ter,
sunlig ht, etc.
Reso urces essentia l to surv iv a l v a ry
fro m species to species
4