The Habitats of Georgia

Created By:

Gail Lutowski

Warnell Forest Education CenterWarnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

The University of Georgia

What is a HABITAT?

• A HABITAT is a place where living things, or organisms, live.

• Habitats provide organisms with:– FOOD – WATER– SHELTER– SPACE

Are All Habitats the Same?

• No Way! There are many different kinds of habitats all over the world.

• Can YOU think of some different types of habitats?

DESERT

OCEAN

SAVANNAH

FOREST

What Makes Habitats Different?

• All kinds of NON-LIVING things make each habitat unique.

• Some examples are:

AMOUNT ofSUNLIGHT

TEMPERATURE WEATHER SOIL TYPE

What Types of HabitatsAre in Georgia?

• Georgia Has:– Mountain Habitats– Piedmont Habitats– Coastal Plain Habitats– Marsh Habitats– Swamp Habitats– Atlantic Ocean Habitat

• Do you know WHERE in Georgia these different habitats are?

Mountains

Piedmont

Mar

shes

Atlantic Ocean

Swamps(along rivers and the Okefenokee)

Costal Plain

Georgia’s MOUNTAIN Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like In the Mountains?

• LAND: – Steep and Rocky

• WEATHER: – Nice in Summer– Cold in winter

• SOIL: – Shallow and Rocky

• WATER:– Streams and Rivers

Living in the Mountains

• Organisms that live in the mountains have to be able to survive during long, cold winters. – What are some ADAPTATIONS that animals and

plants have for surviving cold winters?

Georgia’s PIEDMONT Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like In the Piedmont?

• LAND: – Gently Rolling Hills– Rock Outcrops

• WEATHER: – Hot in Summer– Cold in winter

• SOIL: – Red Georgia Clay– Granite Outcrops

• WATER:– Rivers and Streams

Living in the Piedmont• Organisms that live in the Piedmont have to be

able to survive changing weather. – What are some ADAPTATIONS that animals

and plants have for surviving changing weather?

Georgia’s COASTAL PLAIN Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like in the Coastal Plain ?

• LAND: – Very Flat

• WEATHER: – Hot and Humid

• SOIL: – Deep Sands

• WATER:– Rivers, Creeks,

Swamps

Living in the Coastal Plain

• Organisms that live in the Costal Plain have to be able to survive hot summers and dry, sandy soil.– What are some

ADAPTATIONS that plants and animals have for surviving in hot temperatures and dry, sandy soil?

Reptiles

Gopher Tortoise

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Eastern Indigo Snake

Birds

Red Cockaded Woodpecker Northern Bobwhite Quail

Georgia’s SWAMP Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like In the Swamp?

• LAND: – Flat and Usually

Flooded

• WEATHER: – Hot and Humid

• SOIL: – Dark, Mucky Clays

• WATER:– Flooded Freshwater

Living in the Swamp

• Organisms that live in the swamp have to be able to survive in wet, flooded areas. – What are some

ADAPTATIONS that plants and animals have for surviving in wet, flooded areas?

Georgia’s MARSH Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like In the Marsh?

• LAND: – Flat and Tidally

Flooded• WEATHER:

– Hot and Humid– Windy

• SOIL: – Dark, Sticky Mud

• WATER:– Where Rivers meet

the Ocean– Brackish water

Living in the Marsh

• Organisms that live in the marsh have to be able to survive in brackish water.– What are some

ADAPTATIONS that animals and plants have for surviving in brackish water?

Mammals

River Otter

Raccoon

Mink

Reptiles

Diamondback Terrapin

Shellfish

Blue Crabs

Oysters

Shrimp

Georgia’s ATLANTIC OCEAN Habitat

What Do You Think It Is Like In the Atlantic Ocean?

• The ocean habitat is very different from the land habitats!

• The ocean is very, very wet! : )

• The weather changes all the time. Sometimes there are storms like hurricanes!

• The bottom of the ocean is sand.

Living in the Ocean• Organisms that live in the ocean have

to be able to survive underwater.– What are some ADAPTATIONS that

animals and plants have for surviving underwater?