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.
The black jezebel butterfly 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 non-living components including leaf litter, rocks, logs and water.
Dead leaves and branches together 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.
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 diverse habitats.
River red gums growing along the Murrumbidgee River provide habitat when they are both living and dead.
Lizards burrow into the sandy soil amongst ground cover plants in the arid environment of Mungo National Park.
Mountain streams located in Mount Jerusalem National Park provide habitats for freshwater yabbies.
Habitat digital book
Find out more
Habitat is a 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.