What is a niche in ecological terms?

In ecological terms, a niche refers to the functional role of an organism within its community. This encompasses not only the habitat where the organism lives but also how it interacts with other organisms and its environment, including what it eats, how it obtains its energy, and how it contributes to the ecosystem's dynamics.

For example, a predator has a different niche compared to its prey, as each occupies a unique role in the food web. This concept emphasizes the relationships and interactions that define an organism's place in an ecosystem, which is crucial for understanding biodiversity and ecosystem function. A habitat alone does not fully capture the complexity of an organism's role, as it does not account for the interactions and behaviors that define how the organism lives within that habitat.