What is the process by which organisms alter their environment, influencing their own evolution and that of other species?

The process by which organisms alter their environment, influencing their own evolution and that of other species, is known as niche construction. This concept highlights that organisms do not just adapt to their environments; they actively modify them in ways that can have evolutionary consequences. For instance, building nests, creating burrows, or even altering vegetation patterns can change the habitat in which the organism and other species live. As these modifications take place, they can affect the selection pressures on both the organism performing the construction and other species that share the environment. This interaction can lead to co-evolution, where changes in one species can drive evolutionary changes in others. The significance of niche construction lies in its emphasis on the dynamic relationship between organisms and their habitats, demonstrating that evolution is a product of both genetic changes and environmental modifications initiated by the organisms themselves.