Imagine that a scientist takes a group of Anolis lizards and introduces them into an enclosure at a research facility in continental South America. He notes that the lizards thrive in this new environment. The fact that Anolis lizards could survive in habitats outside of the Caribbean is a reflection of their _____ niche; their _____ niche is determined by predation and resource availability.
A)fundamental; realized
B)realized; fundamental
C)realized; realized
D)fundamental; fundamental

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fundamental niche of an organism includes all the conditions under which it can potentially survive and reproduce, without considering interactions with other species. The realized niche is the actual conditions under which the organism lives, which is influenced by factors like predation and competition for resources. In this scenario, the ability of Anolis lizards to survive in a new environment reflects their broad fundamental niche, while their survival in the wild, where they face predation and competition, would demonstrate their realized niche.

Imagine That a Scientist Takes a Group of Anolis Lizards