1) Why is the lion niche critical to maintain a healthy community?

2) Which sex is mainly responsible for this niche?

1) They maintain a healthy ecosystem by controlling the populations of other species.

2) Female lions hunt while males tend to take care of the cubs.

Explanation:

1) Lions have extremely important roles in the ecosystem. As a top predator, they control populations of herbivore species. If lions weren't present in the ecosystem there would be an overpopulation of fauna species.

According to research, if lions disappeared, other species, such as buffalos, would become the top predator. This would have major consequences as they tend to be the target of many parasites due to their sedentary behavior. Therefore, without lions there would be a higher rate of parasitic diseases.

2) Female lions are the ones who generally exhibit hunting behavior. They tend to be around 30% faster than males and blend better with the surroundings, allowing them to perform better stalking and hunting techniques. Although male lions do hunt occasionally, they are mainly dedicated to the protection of the offspring.