How does niche differentiation contribute to speciation?

Niche differentiation contributes to speciation by leading to the exploitation of different resources or environments. When individuals within a species begin to occupy different niches, they adapt to varied environmental conditions and resource availability. This process can result in reduced competition for resources among these individuals.

As these populations adapt to their specific niches, they undergo genetic changes that make them more suited to their particular environment, which can ultimately result in reproductive isolation. Over time, this isolation can lead to the divergence of species as their evolutionary paths separate, culminating in the formation of new species. Niche differentiation thus promotes biodiversity by facilitating the process of speciation based on ecological adaptations.