Which best describes how an organism’s niche is determined?

• A. By the combination of its physical environment and its interactions with other organisms
• B. By the number of offspring it produces each generation
• C. Solely by the amount of food available in its habitat
• D. Only by the climate of the region it inhabits

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of an organism's niche. A niche refers to the role an organism plays in its environment, including how it interacts with other organisms and utilizes resources.
2. Step 2: Recognize that an organism's niche is influenced by both biotic factors (interactions with other organisms, such as competition, predation, and symbiosis) and abiotic factors (physical environment, such as temperature, water availability, and soil type).
3. Step 3: Eliminate incorrect options. For example, the number of offspring an organism produces each generation is related to its reproductive strategy, not its niche. Similarly, solely focusing on food availability or climate ignores the broader interactions and environmental factors that define a niche.
4. Step 4: Identify the correct description of a niche. It is determined by the combination of the organism's physical environment (abiotic factors) and its interactions with other organisms (biotic factors).
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is the option that includes both the physical environment and interactions with other organisms, as these together define the organism's niche.