Trappes, Rose (2021) Defining the Niche for Niche Construction: Evolutionary and Ecological Niches. Biology & Philosophy, 36 (3). p. 31. ISSN 1572-8404

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Abstract

Niche construction theory (NCT) aims to transform and unite evolutionary biology and ecology. Much of the debate about NCT has focused on construction. Less attention has been accorded to the niche: what is it, exactly, that organisms are constructing? In this paper I compare and contrast the definition of the niche used in NCT with ecological niche definitions. NCT’s concept of the evolutionary niche is defined as the sum of selection pressures affecting a population. So defined, the evolutionary niche is narrower than the ecological niche. Moreover, when contrasted with a more restricted ecological niche concept, it has a slightly different extension. I point out three kinds of cases in which the evolutionary niche does not coincide with realized ecological niches: extreme habitat degradation, commensalism, and non-limiting or super-abundant resources. These conceptual differences affect the role of NCT in unifying ecology and evolutionary biology.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Trappes, Rose 0000-0002-6398-5404
Additional Information:	Recommended citation: Trappes, Rose. 2021. ‘Defining the Niche for Niche Construction: Evolutionary and Ecological Niches’. Biology & Philosophy 36 (3): 31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-021-09805-2.
Keywords:	niche construction; ecological niche; evolutionary niche; habitat degradation; commensalism
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Depositing User:	Dr Rose Trappes
Date Deposited:	27 Jun 2024 13:45
Last Modified:	27 Jun 2024 13:45
Item ID:	23640
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology & Philosophy
Publisher:	Springer
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1007/s10539-021-09805-2
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Date:	3 June 2021
Page Range:	p. 31
Volume:	36
Number:	3
ISSN:	1572-8404
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23640

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