An ecological niche refers to the match of a species to a specific environmental condition. It describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors and how it, in turn, alters those same factors. The niche of a species encompasses both the physical and environmental factors that influence the species. It is an inclusive term that involves not only the physical space occupied by an organism but also its functional role in the community.

Some key points about ecological niches include:

• Role in ecosystem: An ecological niche describes the role and position a species has in its environment, including how it meets its needs for food and shelter, how it survives, and how it interacts with other species.

• Specificity: A niche is a very specific segment of ecospace occupied by a single species. No two species are identical in all respects, and the competitive exclusion principle states that some resource or adaptive dimension will provide a niche specific to each species.

• Influence on environment: The niche of a species can impact the environment it inhabits, as the features of the environment will be crucial to its survival.

• Types: There are different types of ecological niches, including fundamental niche, realized niche, and niche differentiation.

Understanding ecological niches is important in ecology and biogeography, as it helps to explain spatial patterns of ecological communities.