Problem 4 - Biology: The Dynamic Science

Question

The range of resources that a population can possibly use is called: a. its fundamental niche. b. its realized niche. c. character displacement. d. resource partitioning. e. its relative abundance.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The correct answer is a. Its fundamental niche.

Step 1: Understand the Terms

In ecology, a niche refers to the role a species plays in its environment, which includes not only what it eats and where it lives, but, more generally, how it interacts with the biotic and abiotic factors of its environment. A fundamental niche refers to the range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce, meaning it includes all the resources a population is capable of using. So Option a is the most suitable one. Realized Niche, Character displacement, Resource partitioning and Relative abundance relate to different concepts hence are not applicable here.

Step 2: Select the correct answer

The correct answer is 'its fundamental niche' as it refers to the full range of environmental conditions (resources, habitat, etc.) under which an organism can exist.