Briefly explain and summarize the ecological species concept

Answer 1

The ecological species concept (ESC) defines a species based on its ecological niche, which includes its role in the ecosystem, habitat, and interactions with other organisms. According to this concept, a species is a group of organisms that share the same niche and adapt to similar environmental conditions. This approach emphasizes the importance of the environment and ecological interactions in maintaining species boundaries, rather than solely focusing on genetic or morphological characteristics. The ESC is particularly useful for understanding species in dynamic ecosystems or those that are cryptically similar in morphology but occupy different niches.