Since two communities integrate into an ecotone, different species live and compete for common resources. Therefore ecotone results in the formation of diverse ecosystems. This is recorded by ecologists to understand the food chain and survival of the organism. In cases where two communities survive after crossing their ecotone, this leads to species richness and speciation. This increase in biodiversity is often referred to as the edge effect. Since the two areas are highly influenced by two bordering ecosystems, a higher density of organisms and a variety of species can be found in these regions. Such factors thus lead to the spatial mass effect, where certain organisms cannot self-sustain when they go across their ecotone. When organisms exhibit migration or new plants are formed, they can obscure the ecotone. On the other hand, ecotones are highly distinct but are less stable and hence have lower species richness.Įcotones are not only formed naturally through abiotic factors but also can be created due to human interferences such as clearing of forest areas or irrigation. Therefore ecocline can be a thermocline, chemocline, halocline, or pycnocline (variations in density of water induced by temperature and salinity).Įcocline transitions cannot be distinguished clearly but have more stable conditions and hence exhibit species richness in higher plants.
This includes changes in physical and chemical composition such as pH, salinity, soil conditions, and temperatures. The following factors highly influence ecotones:Įcotones are often associated with ecocline, which is a physicochemical transition between two ecosystems. A typical example of an ecotone is the region where amphibians are present, represents both terrestrial and aquatic life. Here researchers look for differences in colors and height in plants.Īnother key feature of an ecotone is the change of species, where organisms exhibit differences in their adaptations. This is primarily because of differences in the accessibility to light. This type of ecotones can be observed in estuaries, where boundaries are characterized by differences in the heights of plant species present in a different area. The further physical appearance of a plant species is a key indicator of an ecotone. For instance, a change in the colors of grasses or plant life is an indication of the existence of ecotone. The word ecotone is derived from Greek words, which means ecology in tension.Įcotones exhibit distinct transitions in their vegetation, indicated by clear lines between two communities along their boundaries.
Though ecotone appears as a gradual blend of the two communities, it is characterized by a sharp boundary line. The transitional zone may be local or regional, where the area can be between a field and a forest or amidst a forest and a grassland ecosystem, respectively.
This is the region where two communities meet and integrate. The case is appropriate for a variety of upper-level undergraduate courses including forest ecology, plant ecology, plant physiology, and ecogeography.Ecotone is a transitional ecosystem between two biological communities. Lastly, to emphasize the importance of critical thinking, students consider the limitations of this study based on the study design, identifying problems and generating solutions to expand the applicability of these findings. Beginning with classical niche theory and advancing to the use of functional traits to define the niche or trait-space of each species, students develop hypotheses about species competition based on niche overlap and how competitive interactions may change with species migrations in the future. Students are given actual data to assess how these species differ in functional traits and to draw inferences about the species’ relative shade tolerance. This “clicker” case uses a handout and a PowerPoint presentation to guide students through the interpretation of three key traits of two dominant boreal species in the high elevation regions of northern New Hampshire to develop hypotheses concerning each species’ shade tolerance.
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