I-biotope yindawo yokuhlala yezinto eziphilayo ezithile. Igama livela kwigama lesiGrike elithi ubomi kunye "nendawo". Omnye uthi "i-biotope" okanye "i-biotope".
Kwizazinzulu, i-biotope ichaza zonke izinto kwindawo yokuhlala engaziphili ngokwazo. Oku kubandakanya, umzekelo, ubushushu bomoya namanzi, imvula, okanye imeko yomhlaba. Ezi zinto zinempembelelo apho izilwanyana, izityalo, kunye nomngundo zinokuphila kwi-biotope.
Zonke izilwanyana, izityalo, kunye nefungi kwi-biotope zibizwa ngokuba yi "biocenosis". I-Biotope kunye ne-biocenosis kunye zenza i-ecosystem. Yile nto ibhayoloji iyibiza ngokuba luluntu lwezidalwa eziphilayo eziphembelelana.
Imizekelo yee-biotopes ngamachibi, imilambo okanye amacandelo awodwa, imigxobhozo, i-moors, amadlelo omileyo okanye amanzi, amawa, amahlathi, kunye nezinye iindawo ezininzi. Endaweni yehlathi, nangona kunjalo, isiqu somthi esinye esifileyo sinokujongwa njenge-biotope.