Because of competition and natural selection, some species may evolve to occupy unusual ecological niches. For example, the horned lizards of North America are specialized ant eaters. Because they have such a specialized niche, anything that could destroy that niche can cause them to become extinct, at least in some localities. For example, in parts of California, the coastal horned lizards has evolved to specialize on the native ant species. But then a species of Argentine ants was accidentally introduced to this area, and they outcompeted the native species. Since the horned lizard cannot digest the Argentine ants, the lizards have disappeared along with the native ants, which are a major part of their ecological niche.
In other cases, ecological niche may determine who survive and who don’t. For example, competition and natural selection forced the mammals to occupy the nocturnal instectivore niche during the age of the dinosaurs. When the giant meteor fell 65 million years ago, it created world wide forest fires and lethal high atmospheric temperatures. One of the few safe places to be was underground, since heat rises. The dinosaurs were too big to hide underground, and they have no place to run from the fires and high temperatures. Therefore the dinosaurs were wiped out, but the mammals survived. Sometimes even though luck determines which species or groups of species may become extinct, there is nevertheless a role for ecological niches as well.
Because of competition and natural selection, some species may evolve to occupy unusual ecological niches. For example, the horned lizards of North America are specialized ant eaters. Because they have such a specialized niche, anything that could destroy that niche can cause them to become extinct, at least in some localities. For example, in parts of California, the coastal horned lizards has evolved to specialize on the native ant species. But then a species of Argentine ants was accidentally introduced to this area, and they outcompeted the native species. Since the horned lizard cannot digest the Argentine ants, the lizards have disappeared along with the native ants, which are a major part of their ecological niche.
In other cases, ecological niche may determine who survive and who don’t. For example, competition and natural selection forced the mammals to occupy the nocturnal instectivore niche during the age of the dinosaurs. When the giant meteor fell 65 million years ago, it created world wide forest fires and lethal high atmospheric temperatures. One of the few safe places to be was underground, since heat rises. The dinosaurs were too big to hide underground, and they have no place to run from the fires and high temperatures. Therefore the dinosaurs were wiped out, but the mammals survived. Sometimes even though luck determines which species or groups of species may become extinct, there is nevertheless a role for ecological niches as well.