microhabitat
noun
mi·cro·hab·i·tat
ˌmī-krō-ˈha-bə-ˌtat 
: the microenvironment in which an organism lives
decaying wood creates a microhabitat for insects
Examples of microhabitat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The location itself proved to be a rich microhabitat: a transitional forest zone where secondary forest meets older growth.
—
Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
The geckos appear to occupy multiple microhabitats within the same canyon ecosystem, splitting their activity between vertical rock surfaces and ground-level vegetation.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Specifically, they’ve been observed to: Time their activity levels with tides
Seek microhabitats with lower salinity when available
Reduce movement during peak salt exposure to limit water loss
In biology, extreme traits are often supported by small, cumulative advantages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Researchers said these differences may have evolved over time as the populations became isolated on either side of the Red River Basin and adapted to their microhabitats.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
In their pursuit of higher yields, cocoa producers often clear vast tracts of forest, eradicating the complex microhabitats that goliath beetles depend on for breeding, foraging and shelter.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Guided by their teachers, nearly 30,000 Danish schoolchildren, ages 7 to 16, helped scientists from the Natural History Museum of Denmark catalog tiny, water-dwelling animals known as tardigrades, or water bears, and their microhabitats.
—Paulina Rowińska, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
As home to a vast array of herpetofauna, herpetology trips are a great way to explore India’s unique microhabitats.
—Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2025
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Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
The geckos appear to occupy multiple microhabitats within the same canyon ecosystem, splitting their activity between vertical rock surfaces and ground-level vegetation.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2026
Specifically, they’ve been observed to: Time their activity levels with tides
Seek microhabitats with lower salinity when available
Reduce movement during peak salt exposure to limit water loss
In biology, extreme traits are often supported by small, cumulative advantages.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Researchers said these differences may have evolved over time as the populations became isolated on either side of the Red River Basin and adapted to their microhabitats.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
In their pursuit of higher yields, cocoa producers often clear vast tracts of forest, eradicating the complex microhabitats that goliath beetles depend on for breeding, foraging and shelter.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Guided by their teachers, nearly 30,000 Danish schoolchildren, ages 7 to 16, helped scientists from the Natural History Museum of Denmark catalog tiny, water-dwelling animals known as tardigrades, or water bears, and their microhabitats.
—Paulina Rowińska, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
As home to a vast array of herpetofauna, herpetology trips are a great way to explore India’s unique microhabitats.
—Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Microhabitat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microhabitat. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
microhabitat
noun
mi·cro·hab·i·tat
ˌmī-krō-ˈhab-ə-ˌtat
: the microenvironment in which an organism lives
the kidneys, heart, and sinuses are the usual microhabitats of the sporocysts of the schistosome
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