Stratifikácia

Stratifikácia refers to the process of arranging or classifying something into distinct layers or levels. In sociology, it describes the hierarchical arrangement of social classes in a society. This hierarchy is based on factors such as wealth, income, education, occupation, and social status. Societies can be stratified in various ways, leading to different forms of social stratification, such as caste systems, estate systems, and class systems.

In biology, stratification is commonly observed in ecosystems, where different organisms occupy distinct vertical layers. For example, a forest ecosystem can be stratified into layers such as the forest floor, understory, canopy, and emergent layer. Each layer provides unique habitats and resources, supporting different species adapted to those specific conditions. This vertical zonation influences species distribution, competition, and overall biodiversity within the ecosystem.

The concept of stratification is also applied in other fields. In geology, it refers to the formation of distinct layers in rocks, such as sedimentary rocks, where deposition occurs over time, creating stratified formations. In education, stratification can refer to the grouping of students based on academic ability or achievement, often leading to different educational pathways or tracks. Regardless of the context, stratification fundamentally involves the organization of elements into ordered, discernible levels.