Here's a breakdown:
* Habitat: This refers to the physical environment where an organism lives. It's the organism's "address," like a forest, a coral reef, or a desert.
* Niche: This is the organism's role and function within its ecosystem. It encompasses how the organism interacts with its environment, including its diet, feeding habits, reproduction, and relationships with other species.
Think of it this way:
* Habitat is the house. It's where the organism lives.
* Niche is the job. It's what the organism does to survive and contribute to the ecosystem.
Example:
* Habitat: A lion's habitat might be the savanna.
* Niche: A lion's niche is as a predator that hunts large herbivores, helping to regulate their population and maintain the balance of the savanna ecosystem.
So, while a niche involves an organism's physical location (habitat), it's much more than just that. It encompasses the organism's entire way of life and its interactions within its environment.
