Ecosystem Roles: Niche vs Habitat

Niche, Generalist, Specialist

​What roles do species play in and ecosystem?

Multiple Select

Which of the following are characteristics of a specialist species?

Select all the apply.

• Narrow range of habitats (places to live)

• Tolerates a narrow ranges of climates.

• Feeds on one or very limited range of food

• Less prone to extinction due to change environmental conditions.

Total way of life, or role of a species in an ecosystem. It includes all of the physical, chemical, and biological conditions that a species needs in order to live and reproduce in an ecosystem.

​Definition

Ecological niche

• The specific area where an organism inhabits.

• The role or function of an organism or species in an ecosystem.

• The interrelationship of a species with all the biotic and abiotic factors affecting it

​Pertains to:

Ecological niche

Multiple Choice

Warblers feed in different parts of the tree. Their roles in the ecosystem vary from each other.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Warblers have occupy different niches in this ecosystem.

• True

• False

Generalist VS Specialist

• A species that can thrive in a narrow range of environmental conditions or has a limited diet.

• Does not easily adapt to changing environmental conditions

Specialist

• A species that can eat a wide variety of foods and thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions.

• Adapt to changing condition

​Generalist

​Draw this graph on a separate sheet of paper. Define areas of the graph that are labeled, use Google to help you find the definitions.

Multiple Select

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Native to Australia

herbivorous marsupials that feed only on the leaves of the eucalyptus tree

• Generalist

• Specialist

• Broad Range of Food Type

• Susceptible to extinction