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Definition of Habitat:
(1) The environment within which an organism is normally found. A habitat is characterized by the physical characteristics of the environment and/or the dominant vegetation or other stable biotic characteristics.[1].
(2) The locality, site and particular type of local environment occupied by an organism.[2].
(3) Physical conditions that surround a species, or species population, or assemblage of species, or community.
This is the common definition for Habitat, other definitions can be discussed in the article


  1. A habitat is the place where an organism is found – i.e. a wave-cut platform, as for example in the EU species and habitats Directive;
  2. A habitat is the area where a species is found, as used by biogeographers; or
  3. A habitat is the area where a species could potentially establish itself, as used by ecologists.
  4. A habitat is large enough to comprise a breeding population.
  5. A microhabitat or microenvironment is the immediate surroundings and other physical factors of an individual plant or animal within its habitat.

Different types of habitats are listed in the article Marine habitats and ecosystems.

Related articles

Biotopes and classification systems
Functional diversity in marine ecosystems
Natural variability and change in coastal ecosystems
Conservation, rehabilitation and restoration of estuarine and coastal habitats


  1. Lawrence E. and Henderson W.D. (2005), Henderson’s dictionary of biology, Eleanor Lawrence. 748pp.