What role does ecological niche play in a species' survival?

The ecological niche of a species is fundamental to its survival as it encompasses all the specific conditions and resources necessary for the organism to thrive within its environment. This includes how the species interacts with other organisms (including competition and predation), its role in the ecosystem (such as its position in the food web), and the habitat requirements that support its life cycle.

By defining the interactions a species has with its environment, the ecological niche highlights what the species needs from its ecosystem and how it contributes to the broader biological community. For example, a species may occupy a unique niche that allows it to exploit a particular food source that other species cannot access, providing it with a competitive advantage. Changes to the environment or other factors that affect the niche can have significant implications on the species' survival, illustrating the importance of understanding ecological niches in conservation and biodiversity studies.

In contrast, while ecological niches can influence species interactions, genetic risk, and physical traits, these aspects do not fundamentally describe the role of the ecological niche itself. Rather, they are more related to other factors affecting a species’ survival and adaptation in its habitat.