Outdoor seating in urban environments, such as park benches, café tables, and public plazas, can subtly alter the microhabitats of lesser-known organisms like orthonectids. These parasitic marine invertebrates, though typically associated with aquatic hosts, have adapted to niche urban ecosystems where moisture and organic debris accumulate.

The presence of outdoor seating creates microenvironments by trapping humidity, shade, and organic matter—conditions that orthonectids or their intermediate hosts may exploit. For instance, crevices in wooden benches or damp patches beneath metal chairs can harbor tiny invertebrates that serve as potential hosts. Additionally, the accumulation of leaf litter and spilled food near seating areas fosters microbial growth, indirectly supporting orthonectid life cycles.

Urban orthonectids likely thrive in these human-made microhabitats due to reduced predation and stable moisture levels. However, frequent cleaning or synthetic materials (e.g., plastic seating) may disrupt their survival. Further research is needed to map their distribution and assess how urban design choices, like seating placement and material, influence these enigmatic parasites. Understanding such interactions highlights the hidden complexity of urban ecosystems.