Elemental Concerns

Waters of Singapore - Off the coast of Pulau Tekong
(Photo taken & edited by Joeline Lim. 9 August 2014)

The elements of a habitat include components vital to the survival of living organisms, that's why we find different organisms present in various habitat around the globe!

FOOD 

They include plant parts, insects or other organisms & usually have periods of abundance (as a result of seasonal variability). Consumed food need to meet the nutritional requirements of organisms & allow for the accumulation of energy in organisms through the storing of body fat (especially for organisms that need to hibernate or travel great distances in their annual migrations). As such, food is one of the main reasons for the movement of organisms.

WATER

General categories of water include freshwater, salt water & water in estuarine conditions. Some species are highly dependent on water due to their moist diets, while others are able to survive on water contents of fruits or leaves alone. The availability of water in different habitats can range from dew on leaves to large water bodies, like rivers.

COVER

The shelter a habitat provides ensures the protection & safety of an organism. Organisms need to be sheltered from predators & prevailing weather conditions. They may differ in scale, ranging from the foliage of leaf litter, a cavity in a tree to large limestone caves. It should be noted that even with a constant cover a habitat offers, organisms found there may change over time, depending on the role of their life cycle at that point in time (i.e. foraging, mating, protecting young).

SPACE

Organisms need space to find food, water & cover, hence the space of organisms mirror their social habits. Like Cover, the space an organism requires is proportional to the size of the organism.

SO...

The quantity, type & distribution of these factors differ over time, hence the organisms found in a habitat are never constant.

Given the differing needs of organisms, there is a need to strike a balance between the habitats of men & other organisms. Humans have a habit of encroaching on natural spaces & ranting about the invasion of their personal spaces by other organisms. Yes, what an irony! Given our rate & extent of expansion & development, we definitely need to practise some form of cohabitation to ensure the survival & sustainability of the homes & habitats of all organisms.

The application of these factors to specific habitats will be covered in later posts.

References:

• Colleen A. DeLong, Margaret C. Brittingham. 2014. Wildlife-Habitat Relationships- Wildlife Outreach Center - Penn State Extension. [ONLINE] Available at: http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/wildlife/habitat-management/wildlife-habitat-relationships. [Accessed 24 August 14]

• United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002. The Four Essential Elements of Habitat. [Online]. 2. Available at: http://www.fws.gov/birds/documents/elementsofhabitat.pdf [Accessed 24 August 2014].