Range Of Tolerance Determines Fundamental And Realized Niches
- Living organisms exist within specific ranges of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) conditions, which define the limits of their survival.
- Beyond these ranges, the species cannot thrive due to insufficient adaptations.
- This survival range is referred to as the species’ range of tolerance, which forms the foundation for understanding ecological niches.
An ecological niche is not just the physical space a species occupies (its habitat) but also its interactions and functional role within the environment.
Fundamental Niche Is The Theoretical Potential
Definition
Fundamental niche
The fundamental niche represents the full range of environmental conditions and resources a species could theoretically occupy if there were no competition, predation, or other biotic limitations.
- This means if a species lived in an environment free from competition, it would occupy its entire fundamental niche.
- It is shaped by the species’ adaptations, such as:
- Physiological tolerances (e.g., temperature range a species can survive in).
- Behavioral traits (e.g., foraging strategies).
- Reproductive strategies (e.g., seed dispersal mechanisms).
- If a plant species is capable of thriving across a wide range of soil pH levels, its fundamental niche spans that entire range.
- However, other plant species competing for resources might restrict its actual presence
