Question

When planning experiments to determine an organism’s fundamental niche, why is it important to test values outside of the realized niche?

	a.	None of the answers are correct
	b.	The fundamental niche might be broader than the realized niche
	c.	More than one answer is correct
	d.	It’s not important to test variables outside the realized niche, the fundamental niche will be smaller than the realized niche
	e.	The experiment should include as many combinations of variables as possible

Answer 1

Fundamental niches of species are the niches where the species face no competition for survival whereas realized niches are those niches which are actually lived in by the species. In realized niche there are limitations and lesser space for the species to survive. All the basic requirements like habitat, food, predation, parasitism are compromised and shared because of the involvement of other species. Hence fundamental species is larger than realized niche as it comprises of the capability of the species to use all the resources to the fullest.

Fundamental and realized niches can also be identical to some extent but mostly differs depending on the other coexisting species , activities of humans, problems and challenges in obtaining resources etc.

Also there are unlimited number of combinations of factors for survival of a species, a limited study containing that only of realised niche will keep us deprived us from accurately identifying the fundamental niche.

Hence the correct answer will be (c)

as both option (b) and (e) are relevant.

Please find the diagram showing the size and space of each niches.