Question

Imagine that a scientist takes a group of Anolis lizards and introduces them into an enclosure at a research facility in continental South America. He notes that the lizards thrive in this new environment. The fact that Anolis lizards could survive in habitats outside of the Caribbean is a reflection of their _____ niche; their _____ niche is determined by predation and resource availability.

Answer 1

The fact that Anolis lizards could survive in habitats outside of the Caribbean is a reflection of their fundamental niche and their realized niche.

Explanation:

The ecological niche is the survival strategy used by species, all the environmental factors that influence it's growth, survival, and reproduction. These factors also include interaction with other species. The ecological niche can be divided into two groups:

• The fundamental niche, which has all the physic conditions necessary for the species to survive in the absence of interactions with other species. All the species requirements in a determined space.
• The realized niche is a restringed condition where the species live as a result of their interaction with other species. In this case, species are limited by the competition effect. This niche is part of the fundamental one.

A species´ niche includes interactions with all the environmental biotic and abiotic factors