Characteristics of microbial niches present in humans and of their colonising biota
| Macro niches contain multiple micro niches |
| Microbial colonisation begins early in life |
| Colonising organisms are numerous |
| Diverse organisms colonise each niche |
| The biota maintains an orderly and stable presence in the available niches |
| Within the microbial population, there is both competition and cooperation |
| The colonising organisms provide symbiotic functions |