What does the term "niche" refer to in ecology?

In ecology, the term "niche" refers to the role or function of an organism within an ecosystem. This encompasses how the organism interacts with other biotic and abiotic factors in its environment, including its habitat, resource usage, and interactions with other species (such as predation, competition, and symbiosis). A niche describes not just where an organism lives (the habitat), but also how it adapts to its environment and fulfills its ecological role. For instance, a bee's niche involves pollination, while a predator's niche may involve hunting specific prey.

The other options, while related to the concept of ecology, do not capture the full essence of what a niche represents. Specifying the physical location of an organism only describes its habitat without addressing its interactions and roles. Genetic diversity relates to the variation within a population rather than individual roles in ecosystems, and the evolutionary history of a species pertains to its lineage and adaptations over time rather than its functional role in a specific ecological context. Understanding the niche is crucial for comprehending an ecosystem's dynamics and how species coexist and interact.