What is an ‘ecological niche’?

The ecological niche describes a way of living that provides a species with adequate nutrition, an optimum environment, and as few enemies as possible. For instance, several different species of water birds can live together peacefully on the sea because each species prefers a different food or hunts for its food at different depths in the water. The birds do not prey on each other’s food, and hence are not natural enemies. We can also say that this particular animal species has become specialized.

These four species of ducks inhabit one ecological niche. The wild duck dabbles in the shallow water near the banks, the pochard searches for its food a little deeper, and the tufted duck hunts for snails and shells to a depth of 6 m. In contrast, the goosander eats fish and hunts in open water.