Final answer:
A niche is the role of a species within its ecosystem and includes interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. Abiotic factors such as temperature, light, and nutrients, as well as biotic relationships like competition and predation, influence a niche. Two species cannot indefinitely share the same niche due to competitive exclusion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors Affecting Niche
A niche is the unique role of a species within its ecosystem, encompassing how it interacts with both biotic and abiotic factors. The concept of a niche is crucial as it determines the species' behaviors, diet, and interactions within the ecological community. It is important to note that a habitat is the physical space a species lives in, and while it's a central aspect of its niche, it is not the same thing. A niche includes the species' relationships with other organisms and their environment, whereas a habitat is the actual area or environment in which it lives.
When it comes to the factors affecting a niche, they are multifaceted. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, light, water, nutrients or minerals, oxygen, and soil quality, can influence the types of plants and animals that thrive in a particular ecosystem. These factors also dictate the availability of food resources and the physical characteristics that a species might need to survive and reproduce. In contrast, biotic factors include relationships with other living organisms, like predation, symbiosis, and competition for resources. The complex interplay between these factors shapes the unique way a species uses its environment and interacts with other organisms.
It's also important to understand that two different species cannot occupy the identical niche in the same habitat for very long due to the principle of competitive exclusion, which postulates that when two species compete for the exact same resources, one will be more efficient and eventually outcompete the other.