The Human Ecological Niche 1

Abstract

The concept of the ecological niche has been used in a number of ways in anthropology: as a specialized part of human society, as synonymous with culture, and as a segment of the habitat. It is proposed that the “multi‐dimensional” concept of the human ecological niche renders the niche concept of greater value to studies of human ecology. The importance of biological factors is stressed, and particular attention is paid to the principle of competitive exclusion, to human niche specialization, and to Cohen's (1968) criteria of human adaptive success.