LIMITING FACTORS, HABITATS, & NICHES

LIMITING FACTORS

In biological or ecological terms, a limiting factor causes a population to decrease in

size. A few limiting factors are:
food
Shelter
Water
space
These are not all limited to the condition of the species. Some factors may be increased
or reduced based on circumstances. An example of a limiting factor is sunlight in the rain
forest, where growth is limited to all plants in the under story unless more light becomes
available. This decreases plant photosynthesis.
NICHES
Niches vs. Habitat
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A habitat is the location where species live. Ex. Tall grasses/prairie

A niche includes all of the species requirements plus its role in the ecosystem. It is
determined by all the abiotic and biotic factors relevant to the species. Ex. Top predator
in prairie areas where gophers live and the temperature is never before freezing.

NICHE CONCEPT

A populations niche refers to its role in its ecosystem.

This usually means its feeding role in the food chain.
A description of a niche should really include many different aspects such as its food, its
habitat, its reproduction method.
Identifying the different niches in a ecosystem helps us to understand the interaction
between populations. Members of the same population always have the same niche,
and will be well-adapted to the niche. (E.g. nectar feeding birds have long thin beaks or
the water lily.)

NICHE DIFFERENCES

Organisms can be identified as either.

o Generalist
Organisms with a broad niche
Eats lots of type of foods
Live in many types of environments
Ex. House mice
o Specialists
Organisms with a narrow niche
Eats a narrow range of food items
Live in few, specific types of habitats
Ex. Panda bear

BROAD AND NARROW NICHE

A broad niche is NOT an organism. It's the environment. EX: Canada has a broad niche
because the organisms that live there have to adapt to the rapid changing weather.

The animals that live in a broad niche are generalists because they can adapt easily to
changes while specialists live in a narrow niche that doesn't change much.

NICHE TYPES

Fundamental niche is where a species can live, negating the effects of predation,
resource limitation, etc.
Realized niche is where the species does live, because the factors mentioned above
have forced it to retreat from parts of the fundamental niche.

HABITATS
WHAT IS HABITAT?
A habitat is a place where animals or plants live, where they get water, food and shelter.
Animals live:
-

On land
In water

Ex. Of habitats:
-

Desert
*It is very hot and dry here. There arent many animals or plants.
*Have many kinds of cactus.
*The animals are nocturnal: they sleep during the day and hunt at night when the desert
is cool.

Rainforest (jungle)
*Jungles are very wet and hot. It rains every day.
*There are millions of plants and animals.
*Trees are giant.

Forest
*There are a lot of trees and plants and a big variety of animals because there is plenty
of water.
*The weather here is different in each season.
*Have four seasons:
Winter
Autumn (leaves turn yellow, orange, red and brown)
Spring

Summer

Savannah
*It is hot grassland where there are few trees.
*Have two seasons:
Dry season
Rainy season

Arctic and Antarctic

*Arctic is near the North Pole.
*Antarctic is near the South Pole.
*Winters are long, cold and dark.
*Some animals migrate in winter to find food.

Ocean
*water covers nearly 75% of the Earths surface.
*There are numerous kinds of animals that lives here.
*There are five oceans:
The Pacific
Atlantic
Indian
Arctic
Southern