dhàbitats

Dhàbitats are the environments that provide the resources and conditions necessary for organisms to survive, grow, and reproduce. They encompass the physical location, climate, available food and water, shelter, and the interactions with other living beings. A habitat is not just a place, but a system of interrelated factors that support a population or species.

Habitats are shaped by both abiotic and biotic elements. Abiotic factors include temperature, light, water, soil or substrate, and nutrient availability. Biotic factors include the presence of other species, such as predators, competitors, pollinators, and symbiotic partners. The structure of a habitat—its size, complexity, and the arrangement of microhabitats—affects how organisms use space and resources. Many species depend on microhabitats within a larger area, such as leaf litter, rock crevices, or coral recesses.

Habitats vary widely and can be categorized into major types such as terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and urban or agricultural landscapes. Within these broad categories, habitats are further defined by characteristic communities and physical conditions, for example forests, grasslands, wetlands, rivers, coral reefs, and mangroves. Habitat quality and connectivity influence biodiversity by determining where species can live, feed, and migrate.

Human activity increasingly alters habitats through land-use change, pollution, climate change, and invasive species. Conservation efforts focus on protecting and restoring habitats, maintaining ecological networks, and reducing fragmentation to sustain ecological processes and biodiversity.