title: [Concept and connotation development of niche and its ecological orientation].
abstract: Proceeding from the niche concept; the article commented the main points of each concept's connotation basing on a systematic review of development on niche concepts, and divided the process into four phases including germination, standardization, quantification and perfection, with two main academic schools. Questions and challenges during niche's development and advancement were presented to extract the characteristics and components of niche concept. On these bases, we explored the orientation of niche concept in ecology, and suggested to position it as a macro concept and detail it in specific applications. Further research points and application perspectives were stated in the end.
authors.forename: Wen-jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xiao-ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D008954:Models, Biological