Ekotones

Ekotones, or ecotones, are transition zones between two distinct ecological communities where environmental gradients produce a distinct assemblage of species and ecological processes that differ from either side. They may arise from geographic features, climate gradients, hydrological boundaries, or disturbance, and they can be abrupt or gradual in space. The width of an ekotone varies from a narrow strip to a broad band.

Ecotones often exhibit higher beta diversity than the adjacent ecosystems because they include taxa from both communities and organisms adapted to intermediate conditions. Edge effects—microclimatic changes, variation in light and moisture, and altered interactions among predators and prey—are commonly pronounced in ekotones and can influence vegetation structure, soil processes, and nutrient cycling.

Ecotones are dynamic and can shift in response to natural succession, disturbance, or climate change. They are studied to understand gradient theory, species distributions, and ecosystem resilience. In conservation, ekotones may offer unique habitats, serve as corridors for movement, or act as indicators of environmental change.

Common examples include the forest–grassland boundary in temperate regions, riparian zones along rivers, marsh–upland interfaces, coastal mangrove–tidal zones, and treeline ecotones in mountains.