Habitats, Adaptations and Niches – Lesson Summary

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Learning Objective

In this lesson we will learn about three ecological concepts – habitats, adaptations and niches.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

  • Define ‘habitat’ and give examples of different types of habitats.
  • Explain what an adaptation is and differentiate between anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations, with examples.
  • Explain the concept of an ecological niche.

 
habitats adaptations and niches lesson contents

(Image: PxHere)

Lesson Topics

1 | Habitats

2 | Adaptations

3 | Niches

4 | Summary

Lesson Summary

  • Habitat refers to the specific area where an organism lives.
  • An organism’s habitat needs to provide all the biotic and abiotic factors necessary for its survival and reproduction.
  • The two main categories of habitats are terrestrial habitats and aquatic habitats.
  • An adaptation is any characteristic that makes an organism suited to its environment.
  • Anatomical adaptations / structural adaptations are physical characteristics.
  • Physiological adaptations / functional adaptations) are bodily processes.
  • Behavioural adaptations are activities.
  • Niche refers to the role that a species plays within an ecosystem.
  • An organism’s niche incorporates its habitat, adaptions and interactions with other species and the physical environment.

 
rock pool habitat

(Image: Martyn Gorman, Wikimedia Commons)

(Header image: Marcel, Adobe Stock)