Niche & Niche Partitioning

The ecological role an organism performs in their specific environment is considered the organism's...

• Habitat

• Population

• Biome

• Niche

The ecological niches of three bird species are shown in the diagram. What is the advantage of each bird species having a different niche?

• As more birds feed higher in the tree, available energy increases.
• More abiotic resources are available for each bird.
• Predators are less likely to feed on birds in a variety of locations.
• There is less competition for food.

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For plants, ______ can include sunlight, water, and soil nutrients.
For animals, ______can include nesting space, shelter, types of food, and places to feed.

• niche
• communities
• resources
• biomes

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What is niche partitioning?

• The process of combining resources to increase competition among species.

• The sharing of unlimited resources among different species to promote competition.

• The elimination of resources to reduce competition and allow coexistence.

• The division of limited resources among different species to reduce competition and allow coexistence.

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How does niche partitioning help in reducing competition?

• By increasing the overall population size of competing species.

• By promoting cooperation and sharing of resources among different species.

• By allowing different species to specialize in different food sources or habitats, reducing direct competition for resources.

• By creating barriers that prevent different species from interacting with each other.

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What happens when two species have overlapping niches?

• The two species will learn how to cooperate with each other.

• Increase in population size for both species.

• Competition for resources and potential decrease in population size or loss of one species in that ecosystem.

• There is no effect or impact on the population size or survival of either species.

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Match the following

• Dietary Niche partitioning

• organisms separate by what they eat

• Spatial Niche partitioning

• grazers eating the same grasses but at different times in the season

• Niche partitioning by time and grass height

• organisms separate by height

• Niche partitioning by plant height

• organisms occupy different spaces in the same habitat

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NGSS.MS-LS2-2

Giraffe eating leaves from the top of a tree while the kudu eats from the middle is an example of...

• Spacial Niche Partitioning

• Dietary Niche Partitioning

• Resource Partitioning by Height

• Resource Partitioning by Time

Answer explanation

Giraffe and kudu eating at different heights is an example of resource partitioning by height, where they avoid competition by utilizing different parts of the tree.

Different species eating different types of grass and trees is an example of...

• Spacial Niche Partitioning

• Dietary Niche Partitioning

• Resource Partitioning by Height

• Resource Partitioning by Time

Answer explanation

Different species eating different proportions of grass and trees is an example of dietary niche partitioning, where each species has a specific diet to avoid competition for resources.

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How does niche partitioning contribute to the overall stability of an ecosystem?

• Niche partitioning only benefits a few species, leading to instability in the ecosystem.

• Niche partitioning reduces competition and allows for coexistence, leading to overall stability in the ecosystem.

• Niche partitioning increases competition and disrupts coexistence, leading to instability in the ecosystem.

• Niche partitioning has no effect on competition or coexistence in the ecosystem.

Answer explanation

Niche partitioning reduces competition, allowing coexistence and promoting stability in the ecosystem.

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