Makroelupaigad

Makroelupaigad is a concept in ecology and conservation referring to large-scale habitat types that define the living environment of communities and species across landscapes. The term emphasizes spatial scale and the types of biota they support; macrohabitats are distinguished from microhabitats, which are smaller-scale features within a macrohabitat.

Examples of macrohabitats include forests (boreal, temperate deciduous), wetlands such as bogs and fens, rivers and lakes, coastal and marine ecosystems, grasslands and heathlands, deserts or semi-arid zones, and urban or agricultural mosaics that maintain ecological functions. The precise categorization varies by country or framework.

In practice, macrohabitats are mapped and monitored to support biodiversity assessments, land-use planning, and conservation strategies. They inform connectivity analyses, habitat restoration priorities, and the implementation of protected-area networks such as Natura 2000 or national ecological networks. They also guide impact assessments for development projects by identifying critical large-scale habitats.

The classification relies on data from satellite imagery, aerial photography, and field surveys, often aligned with established schemes like CORINE, EUNIS, or country-specific systems. Challenges include changes in land cover, seasonal dynamics, and the need to integrate macrohabitat data with finer-scale habitat information for effective management.