Competition and Ecological Niches
What is a Niche?
An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its environment. ie. what it eats, what eats it, and how it behaves.
Competitive Exclusion
Two organisms cannot occupy the same niche because they will compete for the same resources and one will eventually die out.
Types of Niche
Time
For example, nocturnal vs diurnal animals
Place
For example, animals who live on treetops vs on the ground
Food
For example, herbivores vs carnivores
Fundamental Niche
A fundamental niche is the niche that an animal would occupy without any competition (what it is made to do)
Realized Niche
A realized niche is the niche that the organism actually occupies due to competition or other factors
Simulation (May not work in live verson!)
Modify the multipliers for the different attributes of the species to see how they affect the outcome of the simulation. Watch as the advantaged species outcompetes the disadvantaged species.
There is no limit for the speed multiplier (higher is more advantaged). The energy consumption multiplier should be between 1 and 10 (higher is more disadvantaged). The reproductive rate multiplier should be between 0 and 1 (higher is more advantaged).
Fish 1 Speed Multiplier
Fish 2 Speed Multiplier
Fish 1 Energy Consumption Multiplier
Fish 2 Energy Consumption Multiplier
Fish 1 Reproduction Rate Multiplier
Fish 2 Reproduction Rate Multiplier