Knowra Ecotone Ecotone An ecotone is a transition zone between adjacent ecological communities or ecosystems. It may contain species and conditions from both neighboring systems, as well as organisms distinctive to the transition.
Ecological gradient : A gradual change in environmental conditions across space or time. Gradients in moisture, temperature, or soil can produce an ecotone between communities.
Riparian buffer : A vegetated strip beside a river or stream that filters runoff and supports wildlife. The land–water transition along streams is a widespread ecotone managed for conservation.
Ecological boundary : A spatial limit separating ecological units, populations, or processes. An ecological boundary may be a sharp line, whereas an ecotone is a transition zone.
Ecological resilience : The capacity of an ecosystem to absorb disturbance while retaining its basic structure and functions. Complex transitions can influence how disturbances spread between neighboring ecosystems.
Forest–grassland ecotone : A transition zone between forest and grassland vegetation. Fire, grazing, and moisture jointly shape this familiar boundary between biomes.
Edge effect : Changes in ecological conditions and species interactions near the boundary between habitats. Ecotone boundaries can intensify light, wind, predation, and other edge-related effects.
Mangrove forest : A coastal wetland forest dominated by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs. Mangroves occupy a sharp transition between terrestrial and marine environments.
Ecocline : A gradual ecological transition in which species composition changes continuously along an environmental gradient. Ecocline emphasizes gradual compositional change; ecotone can also describe a distinct transitional community.
Range shift : A change over time in the geographic distribution of a species. Species ranges can move across ecotones as climate and habitat conditions change.
Tundra–taiga ecotone : A transition zone between Arctic tundra and boreal forest. Temperature and permafrost influence this broad northern transition.
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