1. Ecological Niches and Adaptation
Occupation
Ecological niche
Total way of life or functional role of a species in an ecosystem.
Habitat
Physical location of a species
Address

2. Niches!! Fundamental Realized
The full range of environmental conditions (biological and physical) under which an organism can exist
Narrower niche, a result of pressure from, and interactions with, other organisms (e.g. superior competitors). They are mostly highly adapted to this one
According to the competitive exclusion principle, no two species can occupy the same niche in the same environment for a long time.

4. Generalist Species Can live in many different places
Procyon lotor
Racoon
Brown Rat
Can live in many different places
Eat a variety of foods
Tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions
Makes them better adapters!
Homo sapiens
Human

5. CONSIDER THE COCKROACH
Periplaneta americana
Cockroaches
Eat anything! (algae, dead insects, electrical cords, glue, paper, soap
Live and breed anywhere (except polar regions)
Can go months without food!
Real good at hiding!
High reproductive rates!

6. Specialist Species Live in only one type of habitat
Use only one or a few types of food
Tolerate only a narrow range of environmental conditions
Makes them more prone to extinction due to environmental change!

7. CONSIDER THE KOALA Only eats eucalyptus leaves
What would happen if there were no more eucalyptus?

8. Patterns of Evolution

9. Gradualism
Intermediate forms between extant (living) and extinct species
Species evolve slowly, small changes add up

10. Punctuated equilibrium
S J Gould
Periods of rapid divergence alternating with periods of stability