What is Ecotone ? Edge effect and characteristic of Ecotone | environment and ecology upsc

What is Ecotone ?

An ecotone is a transition zone between two ecosystems or biomes. It is the area where the distribution of plant and animal species changes as one ecosystem gives way to another.
Ecotones can occur at a variety of scales, from the boundary between a forest and a grassland, to the interface between a coral reef and the open ocean. These transition zones are often highly biodiverse, as they provide a variety of different habitats for different species. Ecotones are also known to play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems and are often considered keystone features in conservation and management.

Characteristic of Ecotone

Ecotones have several characteristics that distinguish them from the ecosystems on either side of the transition zone. Some of these include:
1. Biodiversity: Ecotones tend to have a higher diversity of plant and animal species than the ecosystems they connect. This is because ecotones provide a range of different habitats that can support a variety of species.
2. Edge effects: The edges of an ecosystem are often characterized by different physical and biological conditions than the interior, and ecotones are no exception. This can lead to unique ecological processes and patterns, such as increased predation and greater light penetration.
3. Hybridization: The mixing of species from different ecosystems can lead to the formation of hybrid organisms, which can have unique characteristics that differ from either parent species.
4. Connectivity: Ecotones can act as corridors that allow the movement of organisms between different ecosystems, promoting gene flow and species dispersal.
5. Ecological services: Ecotones can play an important role in ecosystem function and services such as nutrient cycling, pollination, and pest control.
6. Human influence: Many Ecotones can be heavily influenced by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, deforestation and invasive species.
Ecotones are dynamic, and their boundaries may shift over time in response to natural or human-induced changes in the environment, such as climate change, land-use change, and introduction of invasive species