B4.2.1—Ecological niche
An ecological niche is a species role in a community, including habitat, feeding, activity, reproduction, interactions and tolerance ranges across ecosystems.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- B4.2.1
- Level
- SL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing3%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2020
Most common paperPaper3
Typical marks2–3
Common command terms
- Explain
- Identify
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Treating niche as only the place where an organism lives.
Recent exam appearances
November 2020Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ012(c)[ 2 ]B4.2.1—Ecological niche
May 2015Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ121(b)[ 2 ]B4.2.1—Ecological niche
May 2013Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2G2(a)[ 3 ]B4.2.1—Ecological niche
May 2011Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2G2(a)[ 2 ]B4.2.1—Ecological niche
Practice this objective
Coverage 2011–2020 · Updated 15 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- A niche is the ecological role or mode of existence of a species.
- Niche includes habitat, feeding, activity, reproduction and interactions.
- Species in similar habitats can have different niches.
- Abiotic tolerance ranges contribute to a species niche.