ecological niche

noun

Ecology.

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

ecological niche

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

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.