A broad niche refers to the organism. It means that it is versatile in the range of niches it can sustain itself in.
Remember that a niche is the complete range of features and factors an organism utilises to survive and thrive. These are things like; range of food eaten, activity periods (day, night etc.), living arrangements (arboreal, ground dwelling etc.) and so on.
– So say the organism can vary its diet widely to fit with current availability and happily alternate between living in trees and on the ground, that means it can fit and/or has a broad niche. Such an organism is known as a generalist, as in a general range of niches are suitable.
– Contrast that with a narrow niche animal – the koala. It has a very narrow food range; mainly the leaves of eucalypts and it only lives in trees (arboreal). This type is known as a specialist, as in only a special or specific set of requirements are suitable.
A broad niche refers to the organism. It means that it is versatile in the range of niches it can sustain itself in.
Remember that a niche is the complete range of features and factors an organism utilises to survive and thrive. These are things like; range of food eaten, activity periods (day, night etc.), living arrangements (arboreal, ground dwelling etc.) and so on.
– So say the organism can vary its diet widely to fit with current availability and happily alternate between living in trees and on the ground, that means it can fit and/or has a broad niche. Such an organism is known as a generalist, as in a general range of niches are suitable.
– Contrast that with a narrow niche animal – the koala. It has a very narrow food range; mainly the leaves of eucalypts and it only lives in trees (arboreal). This type is known as a specialist, as in only a special or specific set of requirements are suitable.