Aquatic Invertebrates Arranged
by Habit
The habit of an organism is broadly defined as its "mode of existence" -- that is, the way it attaches itself to the substrate, or finds a place to hide, or moves around in search of food. Organisms that live in lotic environments may have morphological or behavioural adaptations that allow them to cope with the physical and physiological challenges of flowing water. Some organisms may spend most of their lives burrowed into soft sediments, while other types may be active swimmers, moving freely from bottom substrates to the water surface. Habit, coupled with the distribution of food resources, and the availability of habitat, helps explain the distribution and abundance patterns of aquatic organisms.
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Burrowers |
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Climbers |
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Clingers |
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Divers |
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Gliders |
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Planktonic |
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Skaters |
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Sprawlers |
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Swimmers |
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Phoretic |