"Niche Construction: A Physiological and Ecological Approach"

"Niche construction" refers to how living organisms actively modify their environment, which in turn affects their own evolution and that of other species. This concept highlights that organisms don't just adapt to their surroundings; they also change them through behaviors like building nests, burrowing, or altering plant growth. The physiological and ecological approach examines these interactions by considering how an organism's body functions (physiology) and how it influences and is influenced by the ecosystem (ecology). Overall, niche construction emphasizes the dynamic relationship between species and their environment, shaping evolutionary paths and ecological communities.