Living Things and Their Habitats

Living things, also known as organisms, need a suitable place to live in order to survive. This place is called a habitat. A habitat provides everything an organism needs to live, grow, and reproduce. Habitats can be as small as the space under a rock or as large as an entire forest. They can be found on land, in the water, or in the air.

Key Concepts

• Habitat: The natural environment where an organism lives, including the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors.
• Biotic Factors: Living components of a habitat, such as plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.
• Abiotic Factors: Non-living components of a habitat, such as sunlight, water, soil, temperature, and air.
• Adaptation: The process by which organisms change over time to better fit their environment, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.
• Niche: The role or function of an organism within its habitat, including its interactions with other organisms and the environment.

Study Guide

Use the following questions to guide your study of living things and their habitats:

1. What is a habitat, and why is it important for living things?
2. What are some examples of biotic and abiotic factors in a habitat?
3. How do organisms adapt to their habitats? Give specific examples.
4. How does the concept of niche relate to an organism's habitat?
5. Choose a specific habitat (e.g., a coral reef, a desert, a pond) and describe the biotic and abiotic factors present, as well as the adaptations of organisms that live there.

By understanding the relationship between living things and their habitats, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of life on Earth and the complex interactions that sustain ecosystems.