Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment, including how these interactions affect the distribution and abundance of species.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors:
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Biotic factors are the living components of an ecosystem that can affect the life of organisms. Examples include plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. For instance, the presence of predators (like wolves) in an area influences the population dynamics of prey species (like deer).
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Abiotic factors are the non-living physical and chemical components of the environment that affect living organisms. Examples include temperature, water, soil, sunlight, and nutrients. For instance, temperature affects the metabolic rates of organisms in a given ecosystem.
Ecosystem Definition: Ecologists define an ecosystem as a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. An ecosystem includes both the biotic factors (plants, animals, microorganisms) and the abiotic factors (climate, soil, water). These components interact with one another, leading to the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients necessary for sustaining life.
Competitive Exclusion Principle: The competitive exclusion principle states that two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist at constant population values. If one species has even the slightest advantage over another, the one with the advantage will outcompete and exclude the other species from that niche.
Niche vs. Habitat:
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A habitat is the physical place where an organism lives. It encompasses the environment and conditions that support the organism's life. For instance, a forest or a coral reef can be considered habitats.
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A niche refers to the role and position a species has in its environment. This includes how it obtains its resources, how it interacts with other species, and its specific adaptations to the habitat. For example, the niche of a barn owl includes being a nocturnal predator of small mammals in its habitat.
In summary, while a habitat refers to the "address" of an organism within an ecosystem, a niche encompasses the "profession" or function of the organism within that ecosystem, including all its interactions with biotic and abiotic factors.
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