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ecotone and edge effect, Essays (university) of Ecology and Environment

ecotonal blending characters features

Typology: Essays (university)

2017/2018

Uploaded on 03/14/2018

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Ecotone: Ecotones also appear where one body of water meets another (e.g.,
estuaries and lagoons) or at the boundary between the water and the land (e.g.,
marshes). Freshwater and marine ecotones are characterized by the presence of large
plants that rise from roots attached to the submerged substrate, and thus they occur in
areas where ample light is available at the bottom of the basin to permit growth.
An ecotone is a zone of junction or a transition area between two
biomes [diverse ecosystems]. It is where two communities meet and
integrate.
Ecotones also appear where one body of water meets another (e.g., estuaries
and lagoons) or at the boundary between the water and the land (e.g., marshes
)..s
For e.g. the mangrove forests represent an ecotone between marine
and terrestrial ecosystem. Other examples are grassland (between forest
and desert), estuary (between fresh water and salt water) and river bank
or marsh land (between dry and wet).
Freshwater and marine ecotones are characterized by the presence of large
plants that rise from roots attached to the submerged substrate, and thus they
occur in areas where ample light is available at the bottom of the basin to permit
growth
Characteristics of Ecotone
It may be narrow (between grassland and forest) or wide (between forest
and desert).
As it is a zone of transition, it has conditions intermediate to the adjacent
ecosystems. Hence it is a zone of tension.
Usually, the number and the population density of the species of an
outgoing community decreases as we move away from community or
ecosystem.
A well-developed ecotones contain some organisms
which are entirely dierent from that of the adjoining communities.
In North America the parasitism of bird nests by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus
ater) is particularly frequent in ecotones between mature forests and earlier
successional patches. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and are active
mainly in early successional patches. Forest birds whose nests are deep within the
interior of mature forests are less likely to be attacked than those within ecotones. The
cutting of mature forests has increased the extent of ecotones, concomitantly increasing
the rate of cowbird parasitism across North America.
Edge Eect – Edge Species
The inuence of the two bordering communities on each other is known as the edge
eect.
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Ecotone: Ecotones also appear where one body of water meets another (e.g.,

estuaries and lagoons) or at the boundary between the water and the land (e.g., marshes). Freshwater and marine ecotones are characterized by the presence of large plants that rise from roots attached to the submerged substrate, and thus they occur in areas where ample light is available at the bottom of the basin to permit growth.

  • An ecotone is a zone of junction or a transition area between two

biomes [diverse ecosystems]. It is where two communities meet and

integrate.

  • Ecotones also appear where one body of water meets another (e.g., estuaries and lagoons) or at the boundary between the water and the land (e.g., marshes )..s
  • For e.g. the mangrove forests represent an ecotone between marine

and terrestrial ecosystem. Other examples are grassland (between forest

and desert), estuary (between fresh water and salt water) and river bank

or marsh land (between dry and wet).

  • Freshwater and marine ecotones are characterized by the presence of large plants that rise from roots attached to the submerged substrate, and thus they occur in areas where ample light is available at the bottom of the basin to permit growth

Characteristics of Ecotone

  • It may be narrow (between grassland and forest) or wide (between forest

and desert).

  • As it is a zone of transition, it has conditions intermediate to the adjacent

ecosystems. Hence it is a zone of tension.

  • Usually, the number and the population density of the species of an

outgoing community decreases as we move away from community or

ecosystem.

  • A well-developed ecotones contain some organisms
  • which are entirely different from that of the adjoining communities.

In North America the parasitism of bird nests by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) is particularly frequent in ecotones between mature forests and earlier successional patches. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and are active mainly in early successional patches. Forest birds whose nests are deep within the interior of mature forests are less likely to be attacked than those within ecotones. The cutting of mature forests has increased the extent of ecotones, concomitantly increasing the rate of cowbird parasitism across North America.

Edge Effect – Edge Species

The influence of the two bordering communities on each other is known as the edge effect.

  • In ecology, edge effects refer to the changes in population or community

structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats (ecotone).

  • Some organisms need a transitional area for activities such as courtship, nesting, or foraging for food.
  • Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of

the species in the ecotone is much greater than either community. This is

called edge effect.

  • The organisms which occur primarily or most abundantly in this zone are

known as edge species.

  • In the terrestrial ecosystems edge effect is especially applicable to birds.

For example the density of birds is greater in the mixed habitat of the

ecotone between the forest and the desert.