microhabitat
- noun
- /ˌmaɪkroʊˈhæbɪtæt/
- Specialized
- Small, isolated patches of habitats may not support sufficient resources or microhabitats during periods of food scarcity or environmental stress.
- different microhabitats
Examples
-
As a direct result of water loss limiting amphibian activity, growth rate and survival were reduced whenever the terrestrial microhabitat was warm and dry, most dramatically in the clearcuts (Todd and Rothermel 2006) and to a lesser extent in the partial treatment.
Academic text (2009) -
The burrow provides the tortoise with a relatively humid and cool, but not freezing, microhabitat during winter.
-
Middle left: Shrub-size willow grows in a moist microhabitat on the second story of an abandoned Detroit factory.
Academic text (2010) -
Critical genetic processes (meiosis and fertilization) occur on separate plants growing in different microhabitats (Figure 1).
Academic text (2002) -
Although dense woodland provides ecological niches that are not found in an open garrigue, it also eliminates microhabitats that can make a unique contribution to landscape diversity.
Academic text (1998) -
Habitat complexity in the deep sea is considerably less than in shallow water, with bioturbation, predation, and food flux contributing to benthic diversity through the creation of microhabitat.
Academic text (2000) -
In fact, the microhabitat is very rich in oxygen; its resident midge species is probably descended from swift-stream dwelling ancestors, and the pitcher plant mosquito may be the only mosquito whose larvae can develop and mature without atmospheric oxygen.
Academic text (1992) -
In addition to responding to the heterogeneity of food sources, soil microarthropod diversity can be significantly related to microhabitat diversity (Wardle and Lavelle 1997, Sulkava and Huhta 1998).
Academic text (2000) -
Gravel enables successful spawning, stones create microhabitat for fry, midsize riffle cobbles increase bug productivity, and big boulders create holding areas for trout.
-
Small, isolated patches of habitats may not support sufficient resources or microhabitats during periods of food scarcity or environmental stress.
Synonyms
A small habitat, like a drop of pond water, that supports tiny plants and animals
A small area inside a larger place that has different conditions
An area with the same natural conditions that has certain plants and animals
How Small
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word microhabitat combines micro-, meaning 'small', and habitat, meaning 'place to live', and you can see micro- in words like microscope or microphone. So a microhabitat is a very small 'place to live' inside a larger habitat where certain animals or plants live.