גומחה אקולוגית

An ecological niche refers to the role and position of a microbial species within its environment.

This includes how it uses resources, reproduces, and interacts with other organisms.

The fundamental niche of a microorganism includes all the abiotic conditions, such as light and nutrient availability, in which it can survive and grow in the absence of competition.

For example, in a lake, photosynthetic bacteria could inhabit any area of the upper layers where light, nutrients, and suitable temperatures are present.

However, in natural environments, different photosynthetic microorganisms compete for the same resources, especially light.

As a result, some species dominate the well-lit surface layers, while others are displaced to deeper regions where light availability is lower.

This narrower set of conditions makes up the realized niche of a microorganism. It refers to the most favorable conditions under which a microbe grows most successfully.