Biology – Biodiversity | e-Consult

The concept of a niche is crucial for understanding species interactions within a community, particularly those involving competition. Two or more species sharing the same habitat will experience niche overlap. The degree of overlap determines the intensity of competition between them. If two species have very similar niches (i.e., they utilize the same resources in the same way), they will compete strongly, potentially leading to one species outcompeting the other or to resource partitioning where they evolve to use resources differently.

Example: Darwin's finches on the Galapagos Islands. Darwin observed different species of finches, each with beaks adapted to different food sources. While all finches share the same general habitat (the Galapagos Islands), their beaks represent different niches. Some finches have large, strong beaks for cracking seeds, while others have smaller, more delicate beaks for eating insects. This niche partitioning allows different finch species to coexist on the same islands, reducing competition and increasing overall biodiversity. Their beaks are a direct result of natural selection shaping their niches.