Habitat
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[[Image:African Elephant distribution map.svg|thumb|right|The remaining [[Habitat fragmentation|fragmented habitats]] of the [[African Elephant]]]]
[[Image:RangeMap Lmarinus.jpg|thumb|right|A [[distribution map]] showing the bird [[Larus marinus]]'s range and breeding grounds]]
A '''habitat''' (which is [[Latin]] for "it inhabits") is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular [[species]].<ref name=''Dickinson 63''>Dickinson, C.I. 1963. ''British Seaweeds.'' The Kew Series</ref><ref name=''Abercrombie 66''>Abercrombie, M., Hickman, C.J. and Johnson, M.L. 1966.''A Dictionary of Biology.'' Penguin Reference Books, London</ref> It is the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the physical environment that surrounds (influences and is utilized by) a species [[population]].{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
The term "species population" is preferred to "organism" because, while it is possible to describe the habitat of a single black bear, we may not find any particular or individual bear but the grouping of bears that comprise a breeding population and occupy a certain [[biogeographic]]al area. Further, this habitat could be somewhat different from the habitat of another group or population of black bears living elsewhere. Thus it is neither the species nor the individual for which the term habitat is typically used.
A '''microhabitat''' is a physical location that is home to very small creatures, such as woodlice. [[Urban wilderness|Microenvironment]] is the immediate surroundings and other physical factors of an individual plant or animal within its habitat.
==Ecological use==
The term "habitat" can be used more easily in [[ecology]]. It was originally defined as the physical conditions that surround a species, or species population, or assemblage of species, or [[Community (ecology)|community]] (Clements and Shelford, 1939). Thus, it is not just a species population that has a habitat, but an assemblage of many species living together in the same place that essentially share a habitat. In ecology, the habitat shared by many species is called a [[biotope]]. A [[biome]] is the set of flora and fauna which live in a habitat and occupy a certain geography.
Habitats can provide greater protection from big animals, for example, a thick undergrowth where an animal such as the [[Kudu]] may hide or go unnoticed.
===Threats===
[[Habitat destruction]] is a major factor in causing a species population to decrease, eventually leading to its being endangered, or even to its [[extinction]]. Large scale land clearing usually results in the removal of native vegetation and habitat destruction. [[Bushfire]]s and poor fire management, [[Invasive species|pest and weed invasion]], cyclone and storm damage can also destroy habitat.
One of the roles of [[national park]]s, [[nature reserve]]s and other [[protected area]]s is to provide adequate refuge to animals by preserving habitat.
== Human habitat ==
{{main|Human habitat}}
Human habitat is the environment in which human beings live, work, play and move about. It is not just a dwelling place – a house - but the sum of all factors that constitute the total environment.
==See also==
*[[Biological exponential growth]]
*[[Reconciliation ecology]]
*[[Source-sink dynamics]]
==References==
<References/>
==Further reading==
*[[Frederic Clements|Clements, Frederic E.]], and Victor E. Shelford. 1939. ''Bio-ecology''. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 425 pp.
* [[Social Production of Habitat]]
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