Ecotonen

Ecotonen is a term that has appeared in ecology-related writing and in speculative fiction as a neologism. In ecological discourse, the established term for a boundary region between distinct ecosystems is ecotone; ecotonen is sometimes used informally to emphasize dynamic interactions, heterogeneity, or human-modified transitions, but it has not achieved wide acceptance as a formal term in peer-reviewed literature.

Outside technical ecology, ecotonen has been adopted as a proper noun in fictional and design contexts. In these uses, it often denotes a place, organization, or phenomenon associated with interfaces between systems—natural, cultural, or technological—and may symbolize transition, contact, or blending of categories.

Origin and usage notes: The formation resembles ecotone by substituting the final syllable; its spelling and capitalization vary by author. The term has been seen in environmental fiction, speculative design projects, and regional guides that pursue nuanced notions of landscape boundaries.

See also: ecotone, boundary ecology, transition zone, interface concept.