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Multiple Choice

Which term describes a species native to and restricted to a particular region?

A species that is native to and restricted to a specific region is described as endemic. Endemic captures both the origin within that area and the confinement to it, highlighting that the species doesn’t naturally occur elsewhere. For example, lemurs are endemic to Madagascar, and many island plants are endemic to their islands. Habitat refers to the type of environment where an organism lives, not where the species occurs geographically. Niche describes the organism’s role—its adaptations, resources used, and functional position within the ecosystem. Population ecology is the field that studies how populations change over time. So endemic best fits the idea of being native to and confined to a particular region.

A species that is native to and restricted to a specific region is described as endemic. Endemic captures both the origin within that area and the confinement to it, highlighting that the species doesn’t naturally occur elsewhere. For example, lemurs are endemic to Madagascar, and many island plants are endemic to their islands.

Habitat refers to the type of environment where an organism lives, not where the species occurs geographically. Niche describes the organism’s role—its adaptations, resources used, and functional position within the ecosystem. Population ecology is the field that studies how populations change over time. So endemic best fits the idea of being native to and confined to a particular region.