Ecotone

Published on 04 Apr 2025

• Definition: An ecotone is a transitional area where two or more distinct ecological communities meet and interact. It is characterised by a mix of species from nearby ecosystems and often has a unique set of environmental conditions that support a diverse range of species.

• Example: Mangrove forests are an ecotone between the marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Characteristics of an ecotone

• Zone of tension: It has characteristics that are transitional to the neighbouring ecosystems and can be quite narrow or relatively wide.

• Example: Salt Marsh-Mangrove Ecotone

• Bridge of “gene flow” and buffer zone: By protecting the neighbouring ecosystem from environmental damage.

• Specialized flora and fauna: A well-developed ecotone contains species that are completely distinct from those found in the surrounding groups.

• Example: Frogs or salamanders found in ecotone are distinct from those found in the adjacent saltwater or freshwater habitats.

• Edge effect: It refers to changes in the population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats. In this zone, the number of species and population density of some species can be significantly higher than in either community.

• Example: Rabbits and deer require multiple environments and rely on the edge as a space for foraging and nesting.

• Edge species:  Organisms that are found predominantly or most abundantly in this zone.

• Example: The density of birds is greater in the ecotone between the forest and the desert.

• Linear nature: It displays a gradual increase in the species composition of one incoming community and a concurrent reduction in the species composition of the other outgoing neighbouring community.

• Example: Ecotone between a river and the adjacent terrestrial habitat.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Ecosystem Ecology Ecotone Edge effect

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change