Ontogenetic niche shift (abbreviated ONS) is an ecological phenomenon where an organism (usually an animal) changes its diet or habitat during its ontogeny (development). During the ontogenetic niche shifting an ecological niche of an individual changes its breadth and position. The best known representatives of taxa that exhibit some kind of the ontogenetic niche shift are fish (e.g. migration of so-called diadromous fish between saltwater and freshwater for purpose of breeding), insects (e.g. metamorphosis between different life stages; such as larva, pupa and imago) and amphibians (e.g. metamorphosis from tadpole to adult frog). A niche shift is thought to be determined genetically, while also being irreversible. Important aspect of the ONS is the fact, that individuals of different sta