Ecological niche

An ecological niche is the role and position a species has in its environment and how the environment supports the species’ needs. In their natural alpine habitat, takahē get their food and shelter from alpine grassland species such as snow tussocks, sedges and rushes.

Related Hub resources:

• Takahē – an introduction – article

• The takahē’s ecological niche – article

• Abiotic and biotic factors for takahē – activity

Related ZEALANDIA resources:

• The ecological niche – takahē/habitat/adaptations information sheet – summarising key considerations related to a habitat’s physical conditions and resources and an organism’s adaptations and interrelationships with other organisms

• Ecological niche photos – photos of a red deer, stoat, snow tussock and takahē that can be used alongside Ecological niches visual organiser worksheet.

• Ecological niches visual organiser worksheet – template for students to organise ideas related to habitat and ecological niches of red deer, stoat, snow tussock and takahē

Image: Chris Rance, Department of Conservation