HABITAT OF LIVING THINGS

What is a Habitat?

A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a human, a particular species of animal, plant, or other type of organism. A place where a living thing lives is its habitat. It is a place where it can find food, shelter, protection, and mates for reproduction. It is the natural environment in which an organism lives or the physical environment that surrounds a species population.

The living place of plants and animals is called Habitat. Habitat can be big or small example forest or a leaf.

Different animals and plants require different living conditions to survive examples. To survive, whales need seawater whereas to survive, goldfish need fresh water. Some animals can survive in more than one habitat and some can survive in one.

Introduction to different habitats

All animals and plants are adapted to the conditions of the habitats in which they live. Example: A rattlesnake could not live in the Arctic for a very long time whereas a Walrus could not live in the desert.

Different types of Habitats

1) Forest Habitat

2) Desert Habitat

3) Water Habitat{Aquatic Habitat}

4) Grassland Habitat

5) Tundra Habitat

Details of Different Types of Habitats

1. Forest Habitat: It is a type of habitat that covers a large area where many trees, plants, and animals live. The plants in forests provide shade and protection to many different types of animal

          Different types of forests are

1. a) Deciduous Forest:   These are forests in cool rainy areas. They can be found in the middle of Europe or the Eastern half of North America. Animals living in this habitat must adjust to cold winters and hot summers. The trees in the forest provide shelter for them

    Examples of animals living in this habitat are

    Black bear, Grey squirrel, Turkey, Rat snake

1. b) Coniferous forest: This habitat is found in Europe and  Canada. The Northern coniferous forests are called Taiga. This is the largest type of habitat in the world. It has fewer animals as compared to deciduous forests cold weather makes life very difficult in these forests.

   Examples of animals living in this habitat are lynx, Moose, Squirrel, Loon, and Hawk owl.

1. c) Rain Forest: Tropical rain forest occurs in regions that are near the equator. The climate is very warm with plenty of rainfall. Most of the animals live on trees.
2. Desert Habitat:

Deserts are characterized by dry conditions and a wide temperature range. These are defined as regions that have less than 254 mm of annual rainfall or precipitation.

    Types of Deserts                                

        a.Hot and dry Desert: Most hot deserts are near the Tropic of Cancer or Tropic of Capricorn.

        b.Cold Deserts: These are near the Arctic part of the world. Cold Deserts have animals like Kangaroo rats, Antelope, and Jack Rabbits.

          Just as some animals prefer to live on land, some need water habitat to survive.

3. Aquatic habitat{Water Habitat} It refers to the region covered with water where plants and animals survive. Aquatic habitat is further divided into freshwater habitat, marine habitat, and coastal habitat. Water is the medium for the organisms living in aquatic habitats.

            a)Freshwater habitat:  These are the water bodies filled with fresh water. These include rivers, lakes, ponds, streams etc. Water present has a very low concentration of salts. Plants       growing in water are called hydrophytes.

       b) Marine habitat: Oceans and seas are termed to be marine habitats. These are full of life. Different varieties of organisms exist in marine habitats. Organisms like corals, shelled animals, sponges, jellyfish, sharks, and many others are found in this habitat.

        c) Coastal habitat or estuaries: This is the region represented by the place where land meets the sea. Estuaries are formed when the saltwater mixes with freshwater. These habitats are unique. Special types of trees called mangroves are found in this region. Animals are also well adapted to live in these regions.

4. Grassland Habitat: They are big open spaces of grass. About one-quarter of land on earth is in grassland.

        The two different types of grasslands are :

          a.Temperature grasslands: They are farther from the equator and have both cold winters and hot summers

             b.Tropical grasslands: These are closest to the equator and all hot all year

    Since Grassland lack trees and heavy bushes Hence grasslands are home to large herds of grazing animals such as Bison, Giraffe, Lion, Zebra, Ostrich

5. Tundra Habitat: The two major characteristics of tundra are Arctic tundra and alpine tundra. These are located at high altitudes on mountains around the world. About one-fifth of the earth’s land is Tundra. The Arctic tundra is frozen for much of the year. The ground is permanently frozen 10 feet 3 inches down so the trees cannot grow there.

Animals living in the tundra are Lions, Snowbirds, Mosquitoes, Flies, Polar bears, Wolves, and Flatfish. Animals are also well adapted to live in these regions.