Elupaiga
Elupaiga, in Estonian ecological terminology, refers to the living environment of a species or population. It comprises the abiotic physical conditions—climate, soil, water, light—and the biotic resources and interactions—food, shelter, mates, competitors, predators—that collectively determine where an organism can survive and reproduce.
Habitats vary widely: natural or artificial; terrestrial or aquatic; ranging from macrohabitats such as forests, wetlands,
Elupaik is a key element of ecological concepts of habitat suitability and distribution; it interacts with
Researchers assess habitat condition with measures of area, connectivity, fragmentation, edge effects, and carrying capacity. Data
Threats to elupaiga include habitat destruction, fragmentation, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Conservation approaches include
Examples include forests providing shelter for many mammals and birds, wetlands supporting amphibians and waterfowl, streams