What is the Difference Between Habitat and Microhabitat

The main difference between habitat and microhabitat is that a habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or during mating, whereas a microhabitat is a small, localized habitat in an ecosystem.

Habitats and microhabitats are two places where organisms live. All physical requirements and biotic factors needed for the survival of a particular animal are filled by these habitats. It’s important to know that several small microhabitats can be there inside one habitat. A habitat has unique physical and biotic characteristics. Although a microhabitat occurs inside a habitat, it also has unique physical and biotic characteristics such as different light exposure, humidity, temperature, and air circulation. 

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Habitat
   • Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is a Microhabitat
   • Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Habitat and Microhabitat
   • Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Habitat and Microhabitat
   • Comparison with Key Differences

Key Terms

Ecosystem, Habitat, Microhabitat

What is a Habitat

Habitat is an array of resources including physical and biotic factors in an area. It also supports the survival and reproduction of a particular species. Therefore, when considering a particular species, a habitat is the physical manifestation of its physical niche. For instance, the habitat of a whale is the open ocean, while that of an elephant is the forest or grassland. Therefore, a habitat simply reflects the place where a particular organism lives and its lifestyle.

Figure 1: Habitat

Furthermore, soil, moisture, range of temperature, and light intensity are the physical characteristics of a habitat. Moreover, biotic factors of habitat include the availability of food and predators. Forest, steppe, grassland, and semi-arid or desert are some examples of terrestrial habitats.

What is a Microhabitat

A microhabitat is a small-scale, physical requirement of a particular organism or a community of organisms. For instance, a decomposing log in a forest is a microhabitat. It may contain a distinct population of decomposers, plants, invertebrates, etc.

Figure 2: Microhabitat

Moreover, every habitat composes of a number of microhabitats. However, these microhabitats inside the habitat may have different light exposure, humidity, temperature, air circulation, and numerous other factors. Some other examples of microhabitats include temporary pools of water, a composing log or animal, cryptobiotic soils, lichen growth, under rocks, leaf litter, termite tubes, and the interior of an ant bed.

Similarities Between Habitat and Microhabitat

• Habitats and microhabitats are two places where organisms used to live.
• Both places fulfill the physical and biotic requirements of the organism.
• Moreover, both physical and biotic requirements are different from one to another place.

Difference Between Habitat and Microhabitat

Definition

Habitat refers to the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or another organism. whereas microhabitat refers to a habitat that is of a small or limited extent and which differs in character from some surrounding more extensive habitat.

Scale

A habitat is a large-scale environment of an ecosystem while that of a microhabitat is small-scale.

Examples

Examples of habitats include forest, steppe, grassland, semi-arid or desert, etc. while an example of a microhabitat is a decomposing log in a forest.

Conclusion

In brief, a habitat is a large-scale environment that provides unique physical and biotic factors so that organisms can live in the habitat. On the other hand, a microhabitat is a small-scale environment inside the habitat with unique physical and biotic requirements. Therefore, the main difference between habitat and microhabitat is their scale.

References:

Image Courtesy:

1. “Rotjan – Enderbury Day 1 – 2nd half (62)” By Dr. Randi Rotjan – Own Work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Klagenfurt Sankt Martin Waldweg Kastanienlaub und Pilze 17102015 5239” By Johann Jaritz- Own Work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia