Species Distributions and Niches

Question 1

What are the factors that limit species distributions?

Answer 1

Climate
Availability of resources
Competitors
Predation and parasites
Dispersal ability and physical barriers

Question 2

What is a fundamental niche and a realised niche?

Answer 2

Fundamental - given by the combination of environmental conditions and resources where a species can survive and reproduce.
Realised - where the species actually occurs after interacting with other species and being outcompeted.