habitat habitat ecological environmental area inhabited particular species animal plant type organism term typically refers zone organism lives find food shelter protection mates reproduction natural environment organism lives physical environment surrounds species population habitat physical factors soil moisture range temperature light intensity factors availability food presence absence predators organism certain habitat needs conditions thrive tolerant wide variations specific requirements habitat necessarily geographical area interior stem rotten log rock moss parasitic organism body host host body digestive tract single cell host body habitat types include polar temperate subtropical tropical terrestrial vegetation type forest grassland semi arid desert fresh water habitats include marshes streams rivers lakes ponds marine habitats include salt marshes coast zone reefs bays open sea sea bed deep water submarine habitats change time violent event eruption volcano earthquake change oceanic currents change gradual alterations climate ice sheets glaciers advance retreat different weather patterns bring changes precipitation solar radiation changes come direct result human activities ancient diversion rivers draining introduction alien species devastating effect native wildlife increased predation competition resources introduction diseases native species immunity definition etymology word habitat use derives latin person singular present indicative inhabit hold habitat defined natural environment organism place natural live grow similar meaning area uniform environmental conditions associated particular community plants animals environmental factors chief environmental factors affecting distribution living organisms temperature humidity climate soil type light intensity presence absence requirements organism needs sustain generally speaking animal communities reliant specific types plant communities plants animals habitat requirements met wide range locations small white butterfly example found continents world apart antarctica larvae feed wide range plant species open location diverse plant associations large blue butterfly specific requirements found chalk grassland areas larvae feed species complex requirements inhabits areas ants live disturbance important creation habitats absence disturbance climax vegetation cover develops prevents establishment species meadows created flowering plants disappear years absence patches bare ground grow lightning strikes toppled trees tropical forests allow species maintained pioneering species fill gaps created similarly coastal habitats dominated disturbed storm algae swept away shifting sediment new areas cause disturbance area overwhelmed invasive introduced species kept control natural enemies new habitat types habitat terrestrial habitat types include forests wetlands broad specific habitats varying climate types temperature regimes soils altitudes vegetation types habitats grade typical communities plants animals habitat suit particular species presence absence particular location depends extent chance dispersal abilities efficiency freshwater habitats include rivers streams lakes ponds marshes organisms found habitats majority specific requirements water velocity temperature oxygen important factors river systems fast slow sections pools provide range habitats similarly aquatic plants floating semi submerged submerged grow permanently temporarily saturated soils bodies water marginal plants provide important habitat invertebrates submerged plants provide water absorb nutrients play reduction pollution marine habitats include water bays open sea zone sea bed reefs deep water zones variations include rock pools sand banks sandy beaches beds supporting flora fauna benthic zone provides home static organisms anchored substrate large range organisms crawling surface creatures float waves surface water floating debris swim range depths including organisms zone close organisms drift currents form desert kind habitat presence amphibians requirement water skins moist development young frogs live creating moist habitats underground conditions adverse couch emerges occurs lays eggs pools form develop great little days undergo feed digging organisms cope drying habitat ways pools ponds form rainy season dry specially adapted characteristic flora mainly consisting seeds survive drought uniquely adapted animals adapted extreme habitats exist fairy lay winter eggs resistant blown dust ending new depressions ground survive dormant state long years behave similar way eggs hatch juvenile fish grow great conditions right population fish end eggs dried mud pond animals plants taken residence urban environments tend use town features homes rats mice followed man globe house use buildings nesting bats use roof space visit garbage streets thought live chicago survey dwelling houses northern european cities twentieth century found species inside including species beetle flies butterflies bees spiders ants number groups warmer climates urban habitat species known affect buildings species cause structural damage small scale physical requirements particular organism population habitat includes large numbers subtly different exposure light humidity temperature air movement factors grow north face boulder different grow south face level grow ground nearby growing grooves raised surfaces different growing veins miniature forests species specific habitat requirements numerous different wood coniferous forest broad forest open woodland scattered trees woodland tree trunk branch leaf flower fruit rough bark smooth bark damaged bark rotten wood hollow groove hole canopy layer plant layer leaf litter soil root fallen log stem base grass fungus moss greater structural diversity wood greater number present range tree species individual specimens varying sizes ages range features streams level areas slopes tracks areas provide suitable conditions enormous number plants animals example britain estimated types rotting wood home species parasitic organism habitat particular outside inside host adapted live life cycle parasites involves different host species free living life stages providing vastly different organism present water marshes southeastern united_states intermediate host second glass shrimp final host shrimp extreme habitats vast majority life earth lives moderate environments organisms managed extreme environments unsuitable higher life forms bacteria example living half mile ice antarctica absence sunlight rely organic material decaying matter melt water minerals underlying rock bacteria found abundance trench deepest place ocean earth marine snow surface layers sea valley providing extensive community bacteria live habitats lacking oxygen dependent chemical reactions rocky found communities apparently based products reactions water constituents rocks communities little studied important global carbon cycle rock mines miles deep harbour live minute traces hydrogen produced slow reactions inside rock reactions allow life exist places oxygen light environment previously thought devoid life zone zone oceans relatively familiar habitats vast bulk ocean air breathing humans divers limited upper lower limit depth prevailing conditions include total darkness high pressure little oxygen places scarce food resources extreme cold habitat challenging research little studied vast earth depths greater plant life animals zone reliant food drifting surface layers predators feeding organisms swimming drifting mid ocean benthic living near growth rates tend slow eyes large detect little illumination blind rely sensory number deep sea creatures serves variety functions including predation protection social recognition general bodies animals living great depths adapted high pressure environments having pressure resistant small organic molecules present cells know proteins flexibility need membranes prevent low temperatures discovered ocean depths result heated cracks places hot close water hot springs forth temperatures support unique communities organisms immediate vicinity basis life process convert substances hydrogen organic molecules bacteria primary producers ecosystems support diverse array life species organism dominated worms crustaceans discovered end twentieth century new science endemic habitats providing opportunities winged animals dispersal grains spores seeds atmosphere considered habitat right active present actively reproduce spend existence airborne hundreds thousands individual organisms estimated present cubic metre air airborne community diverse found soil terrestrial environments organisms evenly distributed varying altitude environmental conditions little studied evidence nitrogen clouds clear evidence carbon cycling facilitated activity examples extreme habitats specially adapted exist tar pits life naturally occurring crude oil pools inhabited larvae petroleum fly hot springs temperature high create cold hydrogen issue ocean floor support higher animals form associations organisms salt harbour salt tolerant fungus ice sheets antarctica support fungi algae grow habitat change natural processes activities man landscapes associated habitats change time slow changes associated processes cause rapid changes associated earthquakes landslides storms flooding coastal erosion changes land use changes habitats brought alterations farming practices tourism pollution climate change loss habitat single greatest threat species island endemic organism lives reason species extinct type habitat surrounded different habitat similar situation island forest divided parts logging strips cleared land separating woodland blocks distances remaining fragments exceeds distance individual animal able travel species especially vulnerable small populations generally lack genetic diversity threatened increased predation increased competition disease unexpected edge forest fragment increased light encourages secondary growth fast growing species old growth trees vulnerable logging access improved birds nest hang branches invertebrates leaf litter adversely affected biodiversity reduced habitat extent provision wildlife corridors connecting fragments river ditch strip trees highway corridors seeds disperse animals especially small ones travel hostile territory putting populations greater risk local extinction habitat disturbance long lasting effects environment vigorous grass europe introduced united_states invasive highly adapted fire producing large amounts increasing frequency intensity areas established altered local fire extant native plants survive frequent fires allowing dominant marine example sea populations explode coastal waters destroy present previously forest barren years profound effect food chain removal sea disease example result returning abundance fast growing habitat protection protection habitats necessary step maintenance biodiversity habitat destruction occurs animals plants reliant habitat suffer countries enacted legislation protect wildlife form setting national parks forest reserves wildlife reserves restrict activities humans objective wildlife laws designed protect particular species group species legislation prohibit activities collecting bird eggs hunting animals removal plants general law protection habitats difficult implement site specific requirement concept introduced involves protecting critical habitat endangered species similar concept incorporated australian legislation international treaties necessary objectives setting marine reserves international agreement convention conservation migratory species wild animals protects animals migrate globe need protection country protection habitats needs account needs local residents food fuel resources legislation protects environment lack enforcement prevents effective protection faced food shortage farmer likely level patch ground despite suitable habitat endangered species rat kill animal pest regard desirable educate community flora fauna benefits habitat habitat single species animal plant dominant virtually exclude species example planted burnt harvested killing controlling invertebrates habitat occurs botanical contexts component conservation biology restoration ecology native plant communities habitats invasive species create stands replace prevent species especially indigenous ones growing dominant colonization occur chemicals nutrient lack natural controls climate balance native habitats yellow botanical habitat example currently dominating acres km2 california non native freshwater areas great lakes mississippi_river watershed habitat example predators control home range russia absent imply simplicity compared habitats habitat complex aquatic habitats exotic beds support similarly rich fauna varied habitat creatures present differ affecting small fish animals higher food chain
Habitat