The term for an animal's role in its environment is its ecological niche. An ecological niche encompasses how an organism interacts with its environment, including its habitat, dietary preferences, reproductive behaviors, and relationships with other species (such as predation and competition). Understanding an organism's niche is essential for studying biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics, as it describes how species coexist and contribute to their ecosystem. Niches can be specific to particular species, leading to unique adaptations, or broad, where multiple species may share similar roles.