1. IV. Niche, Competition & Predator / Prey
(pg. 12, 44 & 45, 48)
A. Niche (pg. 12)
1. The role a population plays in the ecosystem
2. Everything an organism does and when & where it does it
3. Includes how organisms get their food and
interactions with other organisms
4. Includes biotic and abiotic factors
5. example – your seat in this classroom - your personal space, materials, climate, and resources… AND what you do with everything!

2. 6. All members of a species are adapted to
6. All members of a species are adapted to similar niches, but not the SAME niche
a. Two species in same niche? ). Compete for resources – one either has to move out or die!
2.) Example – you and your table partner’s
seat, anoles (lizard) (pg 13)
7. Fundamental niche – the possible niche of an organism - the niche an organism COULD occupy if nothing got in its way
8. Realized niche - the niche where an organism actually lives

3. B. Competition (pg. 48)
1. Definition –when organisms fight for the same limited resource
2. Needed resources – food, water, shelter…
a. Can be same species
Ex: Male lions for control of pride
b. Can be different species
Ex: Lion & Leopard for Zebra

4. example - Lynx and Snowshoe Hare
C. Predators & Prey (pg. 44 & 45)
1. Prey – animal that is eaten by a predator
2. Predator – animal that eats another animal for
energy and nutrients
a. Top of food chain – rarely hunted or eaten
b. Can be herbivores (depends on the definition!)
example–a cow “kills” and eats grass
c. Help keep prey populations in check
d. Maintain diversity in the ecosystem
example – rabbits in Australia (pg. 121)
3. Population effects
a. The prey species controls the population size of the predator species
example - Lynx and Snowshoe Hare

5. Lynx
Snowshoe Hare

7. Snowshoe Hare