Earth is host to a wide diversity of habitat types, each of which supports its own specialized plant, animal, and microbial species assemblages.
DESERT Covering 20% of the Earth's land surface, deserts are not all "hot and dry."
FOREST Forests occupy approximately one-third of Earth's land area, account for over two-thirds of the leaf area of land plants, and contain about 70% of carbon present in living things.
MARINE There are many types of marine habitats. Habitats are classified using a variety of factors such as vegetation, substrate, depth, salinity, and wave action.
MONTANE Mountains are often sanctuaries for plants and animals long since eliminated from the more transformed lowlands.
PRAIRIE Once a vast ecosystem type across the American Mid-west, prairies now exist as a shadow of their former range, which has been depleted by up to 99%.
TUNDRA A cold, tree-less plan that supports a suprising array of plant and animal species.
WETLANDS Nature's own filtration system for watersheds, and a haven for migratory birds.
Plumtree Software, Inc. 500 Sansome Street, San Francisco, California 94111 Phone: (415) 399-7050 Fax: (415) 263-8991
