What is the difference between habitat and niche?

The correct answer highlights the distinction between habitat and niche in ecological terms. Habitat refers to the physical environment where an organism lives, which includes the specific location, surroundings, and resources available. It encompasses all biotic and abiotic components of an area where a species exists.

On the other hand, a niche describes the role and position a species has in its environment, including its interactions with other organisms, its behavior, and its resource use. This encompasses how the species fits into the ecosystem, what it eats, how it reproduces, and its relationships with other organisms, such as predators and competitors.

By focusing on these definitions, option B effectively captures the essence of the two concepts: habitat as the ‘address’ of an organism, and niche as its ‘occupation’ in terms of roles and interactions within the ecosystem. This understanding is fundamental in ecology for studying species and ecosystem dynamics.