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?
Ecotone
Ecological niche
Habitat
Home range
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2013
– **Ecotone:** Is a transition zone between two different ecosystems.
– **Home range:** Is the area an animal traverses in its activities, but it doesn’t define its functional role.
– **Ecological niche:** Encompasses not just the physical space (like habitat) but also the organism’s role, including how it interacts with other organisms (predators, prey, competitors), what it consumes, how it reproduces, and how it is affected by its environment. It is often described as the organism’s “profession” or “address + profession” within the ecosystem.