Habitat

A habitat is the natural environment where a plant, animal, or other organism lives. It includes everything around the organism that supports its life, such as air, water, soil, temperature, and other living things. Every living creature has a habitat that provides what it needs to grow, find food, and reproduce.

Habitats can be found all over the earth, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. They can be very large, like a rainforest or desert, or very small, like a puddle or a rotting log. Each habitat has its own combination of conditions, such as sunlight, rainfall, and temperature, which determine the types of plants and animals that can live there.

There are many kinds of habitats. Terrestrial habitats are found on land, such as forests, grasslands, and deserts. Aquatic habitats are found in water and include oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds. Some organisms live in extreme habitats, such as hot springs, polar ice, or deep ocean floors, where only specially adapted species can survive.

Every organism has a role in its habitat, and many depend on one another. Plants provide oxygen and food for animals, while animals may help spread seeds or pollinate flowers. The balance between living things and their environment helps the habitat stay healthy. When habitats change—because of natural events or human activities—some species may move to new areas, adapt, or disappear.

A habitat also includes both biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) parts. The biotic parts are all living things, such as plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. The abiotic parts include sunlight, water, soil, and air. Together, they form an ecosystem where living and nonliving things interact.

Scientists study habitats to understand how organisms survive and how environmental changes affect them. Protecting habitats is important because it helps preserve the variety of life, called biodiversity. Habitats provide the basic needs of all living things and connect every organism to the environment around it.