Habitat Facts

By Laura Klappenbach, About.com Guide to Animals / Wildlife

Our planet is an extraordinary mosaic of land, sea, weather, and life forms. No two places are identical in time or space—we live in a complex and dynamic tapestry of habitats. Despite the vast variability that may exist from one place to the next, there are some general habitat types that can be described based on shared climate characteristics, vegetation structure, or animal species. These habitat types help us to understand the wildlife that inhabits them and better protect both the land and the species that depends on it.

1. Alpine / Montane
2. Beaches / Coasts
3. Coral Reefs
4. Deserts / Scrublands
5. Forests / Woodlands

6. Grasslands / Savannahs
7. Lakes / Rivers / Wetlands
8. Oceanic Islands
9. Seas / Oceans
10. Tundra

Alpine / Montane

Alpine (or montane) habitats are found around the world in mountain ranges that have been uplifted by geological forces so they lie high above the surrounding lands. Mountains provide habitat for a wide range of terrestrial animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians. Mountain rivers, streams, and lakes also provide habitat for aquatic animals such as fish and invertebrates.

• Alpine / Montane Ecosystems
• Mountains No Safe Haven for Birds
• Appalachian Mountains

• Rocky Mountains
• What Is a Vegetation Zone?
• What is a Rainshadow?

Beaches / Coasts

Beaches and coasts lie at the threshold between land and sea where wildlife adapts to a constantly changing coastline and sways to the rhythms of the tides. Where water meets land, a diverse array of animals and wildlife gather to feed, reproduce, and seek out shelter—birds, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, echinoderms, and many other organisms inhabit these dynamic habitats.

• Intertidal Zone
• How do Tides and Waves Work?
• Coastal Sand Dunes
• Sea Cliffs

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are among the world's most diverse habitats. Coral reefs are made up of millions of tiny coral polyps--animals that together form vast colonies and secrete the limestone deposits that over many generations builds a coral reef. Reefs form in shallow, warm-water seas around the world. There are several types of reef including barrier reefs, fringe reefs, and atolls.

• A Natural History of the Great Barrier Reef
• A Beginner's Guide to the Great Barrier Reef
• Osborne Reef Tire Cleanup Underway
• How do Coral Reefs Form?

Deserts / Scrublands

Deserts are landscapes that have scarce precipitation. Deserts are diverse—some are sun-baked lands that experience high daytime temperatures while others are cool and go through chilly winter seasons. There are numerous kinds of deserts including sandy deserts, rocky deserts, and semi arid deserts. Some of the world's deserts include the Sahara, the Mojove, the Atacama, the Kalahari, the Gobi, and the Namib.

• What is Desertification?
• Sahara Desert

Forests / Woodlands

Forests and woodlands are habitats dominated by trees. Forests extend over approximately one third of the world's land surface and can be found in many regions around the globe. There are many different types of forests that have different climates, species composition, and that support different wildlife communities. Some of the world's forest include tempreate forests, tropical rainforests, cloud forests, coniferous forests, and boreal forests.

• Eastern Deciduous Forests of North American
• Vast Area of Sumatran Rainforest to Receive Protection
• The Structure of a Forest
• What is a Deciduous Forest?

Grasslands / Savannahs

Grasslands and savannas are habitats characterized by the predominance of grass vegetation and the absence of forests or thick tree stands. Grasslands are located in temperate regions while savannas occur in tropical areas. Both habitats receive enough rainfall to support grass growth but they do not receive enough rainfall to support the growth of forests.

• The Natural History of the Great Plains
• What is a Prairie?

Lakes / Rivers / Wetlands

Aquatic habitats come in many forms: lakes, rivers, wetlands, marshes, lagoons, streams, rivers, and swamps. Where freshwater mixes with saltwater you'll find mangroves, salt marshes, and mud flats. All of these habitats are home to a diverse assortment of wildlife including virtually every group of animals—amphibians, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and birds.

• Everglades
• What is a Wetland?

Oceanic Islands

Oceanic islands are tiny isolated patches of land surrounded by vast expanses of water. Many oceanic islands are evolutionary laboratories where wayward species set root and over many generations develop into unique creatures found nowhere else on Earth. Oceanic islands provide us with great insights into the workings of the nature and the mechanisms by which animals evolve and adapt to their surroundings.

• Wildlife of the Galapagos Islands
• What is Island Biogeography Theory?

Seas / Oceans

Seas and oceans stretch from pole to pole and reach around the globe. They cover more than 70 percent of the Earth's surface and hold in excess of 300 million cubic miles of water. The world's oceans conceal a vast underwater landscape of submerged mountain ranges, continental shelves, and sprawling trenches.

• Seas and Oceans
• Intertidal Zone

Tundra

Tundra is a cold habitat characterized by low temperatures, short vegetation, long winters, brief growing seasons, and limited drainage. The term 'tundra' is derived from the Finnish word 'tunturi' which can be translated as 'treeless' or 'barren plain'. Arctic tundra is located near the North Pole and extends southward to the point where coniferous forests grow. Alpine tundra is located on mountains around the world at elevations that are above the tree line.

• What is Permafrost?
• Mammals of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge