Which of the following statements about the fundamental and realized niche are true? Check all that apply.
A)A species' realized niche could be the same size as its fundamental niche.
B)A species' realized niche could be smaller than its fundamental niche.
C)A species' fundamental niche can be smaller than its realized niche.
D)The extent of the realized niche is determined,in part,by interspecific competition.
E)The extent of the fundamental niche is determined,in part,by conditions of the physical environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A species' realized niche can indeed be the same size as its fundamental niche in the absence of competition or other limiting factors. It is more common, however, for the realized niche to be smaller than the fundamental niche due to factors like interspecific competition, which limits the range of conditions under which a species can exist. The fundamental niche is defined by the physical and biological conditions under which a species can live without regard to the presence of competitors, hence it is determined by the physical environment. The realized niche is influenced by interactions with other species, including competition, which can restrict the conditions under which the species can exist, making it smaller than or equal to the fundamental niche. The statement that a species' fundamental niche can be smaller than its realized niche (C) is incorrect because the fundamental niche represents the full range of environmental conditions under which a species can survive and reproduce, and the realized niche is a subset of these conditions where the species actually exists due to biotic interactions like competition.

Which of the Following Statements About the Fundamental and Realized