Niche
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| - | A '''niche''' is a term describing the relational position of an agent in the system, for example the | + | A '''niche''' is a term describing the relational position or place of an agent in the system, for example the place of a species or population in its ecosystem, or the position of a company in the economy. It is a place suited to contain or maintain a certain individual or [[Species|species]]. In ecology, a niche is a term describing the way of life of a species in nature, a place a species occupies in an environment. Each species is thought to have a separate, unique niche where it is able to live and survive. A geographical nice is a habitat: the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other biological organism. |
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| + | A niche can be filled by an organism, or it can be empty. In biology, biologcal organisms and species can exist if they occupy an ecological niche. In the economy, firms and corporations can exist if they occupy a market niche. | ||
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| + | Species and organisms which are well [[Adaptation|adapted]] to their niche have a high [[Fitness|fitness]] and a good chance for survival and reproduction. Similar [[Species|species]] may [[Competition|compete]] to occupy the same niche. | ||
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== Links == | == Links == | ||
* Wikipedia link for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_niche ecological niche] | * Wikipedia link for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_niche ecological niche] | ||
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| + | == References == | ||
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| + | * Evelyn Fox Keller and Elisabeth A. Lloyd, "Keywords in Evolutionary Biology", Harvard University Press, 1992 | ||
