ecological niche

American  

noun

Ecology.

1. the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.

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ecological niche Cultural  

1. The place or function of a given organism within its ecosystem.

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Different organisms may compete for the same niche. For example, in a forest there may be a niche for an organism that can fly and eat nectar from blossoms. This niche may be filled by some sort of bird, or an insect, or even a mammal such as a bat.

Example Sentences

"Did jaws evolve in order to create a new ecological niche, or did our ancestors fill an existing niche first, and then diversify?" asks Prof. Sallan.

From Science Daily • Jan. 11, 2026

After analyzing this data, along with information on constant temperatures inside the caves, and by using ecological niche modeling, the researchers concluded that subterranean spider species have a bleak outlook.

From Salon • Jan. 22, 2024

The juvenile tyrannosaurs, it seems, had taken over that ecological niche.

From National Geographic • Dec. 8, 2023

Hopefully some possible futures include an ecological niche for humans.

From Scientific American • Nov. 7, 2023

He says that when a species becomes extinct, some other species moves in to fill up the ecological niche, because Nature abhors a vacuum.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood