Background information habitats – What is a habitat? A habitat is where an organism lives and has all its survival needs met. It is where an animal can find food, shelter and enough water for survival. It is where plants have the right amount of sunlight, water and nutrients to grow. A healthy habitat is a place where plants and animals live harmoniously together without overpopulation, or depletion of water or food resources. Types of habitats Every habitat is different depending on the organism being considered. An ant’s habitat is going to be much smaller than the habitat for a bird that may fly long distances from its nest to find food. However, the two habitats may overlap and have common elements that make up an ecosystem. They may also be dependent on each other for survival. Importance of healthy habitats Healthy habitats lead to healthy ecosystems. An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals that live, feed and interact together in a specific area. The Millennium Assessment Report () uses the definition "An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and the non-living environment interacting as a functional unit." Within an ecosystem are multiple habitats for specific organisms. An ecosystem may be large, such as a rainforest, a reef, or even the ocean with all its interconnecting elements. Or it may be smaller, such as a lake or a small island. For an ecosystem to be healthy, habitats within the ecosystem need to be healthy.
Background information – habitats What is a habitat? A habitat is where an organism lives and has all its survival needs met. It is where an animal can find food, shelter and enough water for survival. It is where plants have the right amount of sunlight, water and nutrients to grow. A healthy habitat is a place where plants and animals live harmoniously together without overpopulation, or depletion of water or food resources. Types of habitats Every habitat is different depending on the organism being considered. An ant’s habitat is going to be much smaller than the habitat for a bird that may fly long distances from its nest to find food. However, the two habitats may overlap and have common elements that make up an ecosystem. They may also be dependent on each other for survival. Importance of healthy habitats Healthy habitats lead to healthy ecosystems. An ecosystem is a community of plants and animals that live, feed and interact together in a specific area. The Millennium Assessment Report () uses the definition "An ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism communities and the non-living environment interacting as a functional unit." Within an ecosystem are multiple habitats for specific organisms. An ecosystem may be large, such as a rainforest, a reef, or even the ocean with all its interconnecting elements. Or it may be smaller, such as a lake or a small island. For an ecosystem to be healthy, habitats within the ecosystem need to be healthy.
Reef-Guardians-2016-Year-1-Habitat-Investigations.docx