Volcanic/sediment, acid/alkaline, hard/soft; different rock substrate means differing habitats
Geology is the study of rock formations and is a complex subject needing an entire course on its own but one does not need to be a geologist to understand habitats, just a cursory knowledge is sufficient. In its simplest form there are two types of rock; sedimentary and igneous.
Sedimentary rocks are formed, as its name implies, from the deposition of minerals or animal matter on the sea floor and then through geological movement become compressed and raised above the seas' surface. This happens over millions (if not billions) of years. Sandstones and limestones are examples of sedimentary rocks.
Igneous rocks are formed from volcanic activity where the molten minerals of the earth's core are forced to the surface and then cool and crystalise to become exposed rock. Granite and quartz are examples of igneous rocks.
In general, igneous rocks are much harder and more impervious than sedimentary rocks. Igneous rocks tend to form high areas of ground whereas sedimentary rocks are often at or just above sea level.
This is really a very simplistic summary of geology, it is far more complex than outlined here. Some sedimentary rocks for example are not compressed and form what are known as beds. This summary does not take into account the action of climatic conditions on the form and location of rocks; glaciation during the ice age moved fragments, some of them very large, of igneous rocks from the north and those remnants were left here when the ice receded.
It is, however, fair to say that the underlying geological substrate will affect the habitat that forms above it but that can be influenced by many other factors that take effect over long periods of time.
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