Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre

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Habitat

Habitat

What is a habitat?

A habitat is the natural environment of an animal. It provides shelter, food, water and other requirements the animal needs for survival. Natural areas have many different habitat components.

Butterfly with black wings with a red stripe
Image: The black jezebel is common in bushland habitats along the east coast of Australia.

Habitat components

Living habitat components include trees, shrubs and ground cover plants. A good quality habitat also contains many non-living components including leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.

Bushland with trees, grasses, trees and fallen leaves, sticks and logs.
Image: Dead leaves and branches along with different types of living plants makes this bushland a perfect home for a variety of species.

Good habitat

A habitat that provides a variety of habitat components will support a greater diversity of animals. For example, a ground cover of native grasses and herbs is a seed supply for finches but also home to lizards, small mammals and butterfly larvae. Trees and shrubs attract birds seeking nectar or pollen but are equally attractive to leaf eaters such as possums and a host of insects.   

Cone-shaped banksia flower with brush-like 'petals'
Image: Flowering shrubs provide food in the form of nectar for many birds, mammals and invertebrates.

Habitat diversity

Throughout Australia there are many unique natural areas such as deserts, sub-tropical rainforests, grassy box woodlands and coastal heath. These environments all look different and contain their own special habitats.

Large river red gums growing along a river
Image: River red gums growing along the Murrumbidgee River provide habitat when they are alive and dead.
Sandy soil with low small-leaved shrubs
Image: Lizards burrow into the sandy soil amongst ground cover plants in Mungo National Park.
Natural pond surrounded by rocks and bushland
Image: Mountain streams located in Mt Jerusalem National Park provide great habitats for freshwater yabbies.

habitat book
Image: Habitat digital book

Find out more

Habitat is a special digital book that investigates the needs of living things through detailed text, interactive activities, videos and stunning images.

Explore the value of habitats such as trees, shrubs and ground cover plants and non-living habitats such as leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.

Find out how to create and restore habitats that will help animals survive and thrive.

This book supports Australian Curriculum biological sciences and living world.

Download free from Apple Books.

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