Niche of Organisms: Same Species, Different Niches?

[gracy]

As far as i know niche is not any place or geographical location/space (i.e habitat),instead it is a kind of lifestyle which enable an organism to survive in particular habitat,right?Now i want to ask can two members of same species living in same habitat have different niches?if yes then please give example.I don't think so because members of same species would have similar lifestyle so similar niche.Even members of same same species can have different lifestyle or niche if they are in different habitat but members of same species in same habitat having different niches i can't imagine!

 

[atyy]

Wikipedia suggests that it may be possible depending on how niche and species are defined: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymorphism_(biology)#Polymorphism_and_niche_diversity.

Googling for "polymorphism niche diversity" led to some other interesting links:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724955
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15514047

I think the Helicobacter example is something like what you are looking for, with different niches in the same(?) habitat being occupied by a single species. The question is whether the habitats for the different niches are the really the same.

The Borrelia example seems different, but I listed it for comparison.

 

[Danger]

members of same species in same habitat having different niches i can't imagine!

You're not married, are you?

 

[Pythagorean]

I've always thought niche was ecological. So a predator and a prey in the same region will have different niches. The prey feeds the predators, the predators keep prey populations stable.

 

[LudusRex]

I can confirm that your understanding of a niche is correct. A niche is not a specific location, but rather the role an organism plays in its environment. It includes the resources it uses, interactions with other organisms, and its adaptations for survival.

To answer your question, yes, it is possible for two members of the same species living in the same habitat to have different niches. This can occur if there is variation within the species, such as differences in behavior, diet, or preferred habitat within the larger habitat. For example, in a population of birds living in a forest, some individuals may specialize in eating insects found in the canopy while others may focus on foraging on the forest floor. They are still members of the same species, but they have different niches within the same habitat.

Another example could be seen in a population of fish living in a lake. Some individuals may prefer to feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates, while others may specialize in eating algae from the surface. Both groups are members of the same species, but they have different niches within the same habitat.

So, although it may be more common for members of the same species to have similar niches, it is possible for individuals to have different niches within the same habitat due to differences in their behavior, diet, or adaptations. This variation can actually be beneficial for the species as a whole, as it allows for more efficient use of resources and reduces competition within the population.