Preface to Marine Habitats

A habitat is where plants, animals, fish, bugs and you live. Habitats can be as small as a puddle and as large as an ocean. Many animals use different types of habitats in order to survive and reproduce. For example, salmon may live in the ocean, but are born in rivers and streams.

Water (aquatic) habitats interact with land (terrestrial) habitats. Many species of wildlife and plants need both habitats in order to breed and eat and for shelter.

The habitat categories used in The NatureMapping Program follow those originally developed for the Washington Gap Analysis Project.

The water habitats are the focus in this module and will be described in more detail than in the Wildlife Module or for the Washington Gap Analysis Project.

Descriptions and photos of habitats »