MINIMUM HABITAT AREA

The Minimum Habitat Area (MHA) for a species is the sum of the areas of each type of Essential Habitat needed, for each stage of the life history of an organism, to support the Minimum Viable Population.

Depending on the dispersal ability of a species life history stage the habitat interspersion (the mix of habitat types) of some Essential Habitats may be critical.

For instance due to a limited dispersal ability of some tree frogs adult habitat (old trees) and breeding habitats (ponds) may have to occur at a minimum proximity from each other to assure survival. With such species the MHA is often considered as a minimum area of a tight mosaic of Essential Habitats.

For some fish with high dispersal ability, small isolated patches of shelter and feeding habitat (fishes that live on sponge reefs) within an otherwise uninhabitable seascape (sediment bottom) will support high overall populations. For such species the MHA can be considered as a sum of the areas of the patchy Essential Habitat within the overall area.