Good, Bad or Indifferent?

Uncomfortable

Under some conditions, a plant or animal may survive but not prosper. This type of habitat will suffice until something better comes along. Under less than optimum conditions, a living thing may have less resistance to disease or predators. Some animals, for example birds, may live in a habitat for part of the year and then move out when conditions become unsuitable.

Harmful

Many living things can survive short periods outside of the conditions that they normally need. Sooner or later, something's got to give. Over longer time periods, a living thing may adapt to allow it to survive under conditions that used to be unfavourable to it. However, if conditions change too much too fast, a species may become extinct.

Optimum

Often, optimum conditions are required before the plant or animal will succeed in producing more of its own kind. There may be more competition for this type of habitat.

Some living things can accept a wider range of living conditions than others. Only a few living things can change unsuitable habitat to optimum habitat: Beavers are one example. Humans are another. Some living things, including humans, on occasion will convert suitable habitat to unsuitable habitat!

On a few occasions, either intentionally or accidentally, people have transported living things into new habitats where they have no natural competition which has created some severe problems. In particular, island habitats are prone to this type of problem.

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