mikrohabitats

Mikrohabitats are small-scale, discrete habitats within a larger ecosystem, defined by distinct abiotic conditions and a separate community from the surrounding area. Their size and persistence can vary from a few cubic centimeters to larger features such as leaf litter layers, rock crevices, or hollow plant stems.

Key determinants include microclimate (temperature and humidity), substrate moisture and texture, light, chemical conditions (pH, salinity), and physical structure (pores, cracks). These factors create resources and niches that support specialized organisms and locally high biodiversity, even in otherwise uniform habitats.

Examples include leaf litter and the humus layer, soil pores, moss cushions, under rocks or bark, termite or ant nests, caves, coral crevices, tidal rock pools, and urban niches such as cracks in walls or potted-plant soil.

Ecologically, Mikrohabitats provide refuges during adverse conditions, facilitate colonization and reproduction, and contribute to nutrient cycling and microbial diversity. They show pronounced niche partitioning and can influence the resilience and functioning of ecosystems by maintaining organisms that depend on stable microenvironments.

Research methods involve micro-scale sampling, microclimate data loggers, and spatial mapping. Understanding Mikrohabitats aids conservation, urban ecology, and studies of species distributions, especially for organisms with narrow tolerances or specialized life cycles.