Habitat vs. Niche
Main DifferenceThe key difference between habitat and niche is that the habitat is that particular space in the environment in which an organism lives while niche is the role of an organism in the environment.
Difference Between Habitat and Niche
Habitat vs. Niche
Habitat is that space in an environment where an organism lives while niche is the role of a species in its environment.
Habitat vs. Niche
Habitat is the zone where an individual finds its food, shelter, protection and its mate for reproduction whereas niche is the job or the interaction of the organism with its environment.
Habitat vs. Niche
Habitat may support multiple species while niche supports a single species.
Habitat vs. Niche
Habitat is the effect of the environment on an organism while niche is the effect of an organism on its environment.
Habitat vs. Niche
A species does not change its habitat while a species may have different types of a niche in its different life stages.
Habitat vs. Niche
Habitat represents a physical place while niche represents an activity performed by a living organism.
Habitatnoun
Conditions suitable for an organism or population of organisms to live.
This park offers important amphibian habitat and breeding area.Nichenoun
(architecture) A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament. Hence, any similar position, literal or figurative.
Habitatnoun
A place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs.
Nichenoun
(ecology) A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
Habitatnoun
A terrestrial or aquatic area distinguished by geographic, abiotic and biotic features, whether entirely natural or semi-natural.
Nichenoun
(by extension) Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.
Habitatnoun
A place in which a person lives.
Nichenoun
An arrow woven into a Muslim prayer rug pointing in the direction of Mecca.
Habitatnoun
the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs;
a marine habitathe felt safe on his home groundsNicheverb
(transitive) To place in a niche.
a niched vaseNicheverb
To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.
Nicheadjective
Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal.
Nichenoun
a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it;
he found his niche in the academic worldNichenoun
a small concavity
Nichenoun
an enclosure that is set back or indented
Nichenoun
(ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)
Comparison Chart
| Habitat | Niche |
| The place in the environment in which an organism lives is called its habitat. | The role of an organism in its environment is called niche. |
| Effect | |
| Habitat deals with the effect of the environment on the organism. | Niche deals with the effect of an individual on the organism. |
| Change | |
| A species does not change its habitat. | A species may live in the different type of niches in its different life stages. |
| Support | |
| Habitat supports different species. | Niche supports a single species. |
| Function | |
| It is the zone in the environment that provides the food, shelter, protection and mates for reproduction to the organism. | It includes the interaction of the organism with living and non-living components of the environment. |
| Consist Of | |
| Habitat consists of multiple niches. | Niches do not contain any components. |
| Nature | |
| It is a physical place. | It is an activity performed by a living organism. |
Habitat vs. Niche
Every organism of this universe has a specific role to play in this ecosystem. Every organism has a specific place to live, specific function to perform and specific ways to reproduce. Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the study of the relationship of living organisms to their environment. To study ecology, we should know its two basic terms, i.e. habitat and niche. Habitat is the place in the environment where an organism lives while niche is the role that an organism plays in its environment. Habitat is the area in the ecosystem where the organism finds its food, shelter, and breed, etc. while niche is how an individual finds its food and how it utilizes his available resources, etc. Habitat may support a number of species whereas niche supports only a single species.
What is Habitat?
Habitat is derived from a Latin word which means “it inhabits”.A habitat is an ecological area where a particular species of plants, animals or other types of organisms are living. This term actually refers to the zone in which an organism find food, shelter, mates for reproduction and protection, etc. Every organism has a specific habitat. It varies from organism to organism according to their daily requirements. Some organisms may survive in flexible habitat while others have a very specific habitat. They cannot survive without their specific habitat. So, it means that habitat may support multiple species. Nowadays habitat destruction is a great problem. Human beings are destroying the habitat of different plants and animals for their own welfare.
What is a Niche?
Niche is derived from the Latin word “nidus” meaning “nest”. Niche in an ecological term that describes the role of a species or organism in its environment. It describes how an organism responds to the available resources and their competitors in the environment. A niche encompasses what an organism eats and how it interacts with the biotic(other living organisms) and abiotic(climate and weather etc.) components of the environment. It is the effect of an organism on its environment. Every species has its specific niche, but it may have a different type of niche in its different stages of life.
ConclusionFrom the above discussion, it is concluded that habitat is the ecological zone of an organism in an environment in which he found his food, shelter, protection, and mate for reproduction while niche is the role or interaction of an organism with the biotic and abiotic components of its environment.
