Abiotic niche divergence plays a crucial role in the speciation of hybrid species. By comparing 22 homoploid hybrid species and 60 allopolyploid species to their progenitors, researchers found that niche shifts involving novelty are common in both types of hybrids. Homoploid hybrids show more significant shifts in both fundamental and realized niches compared to allopolyploids. Climate has a greater impact on niche shifts than soil and landform. Overall, abiotic niche divergence is essential for the establishment of hybrid species, especially without genome duplication.