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The concept of ecocline and ecotone plays an important role in defining the ecosystem variation in a geographic area.
But, in contrast, an ecotone is more deviated towards species differentiation.īelow is a summary of the difference between ecocline and ecotone in tabular form. Furthermore, another difference between ecocline and ecotone is that the ecocline is more deviated towards the physiochemical aspect. So, this is the key difference between ecocline and ecotone. Ecocline shows a gradient differentiation based on physiochemical characteristics, while ecotone is a sharp transition causing a zone borderline to two distinct ecosystems. What is the Difference Between Ecocline and Ecotone?Įcocline and ecotone are primarily based on ecosystem differentiation. Both analyze the behaviour of species in varied ecological conditions.Adaptations play an important role in species differentiation in both zones.
In both concepts, the involvement of species is subjected to genetic shifts. Both are considered concepts of ecosystems differentiation. What are the Similarities Between Ecocline and Ecotone? The two borderline ecosystems of an ecotone are generally homogenous. Therefore, an ecotone will consist of species possessing characteristics common to borderline ecosystems. This is yet another stable system where organisms can survive. What is Ecotone?Įcotone is defined as a transition zone between two biomes. This is a separation based on the distance, which causes a genetic shift. The B blood group is more frequently found among the Asian population while less frequently in the West. One of the best examples for ecocline is the blood type frequency distribution. In secondary differentiation, the species that are already differentiated are put into zones based on their similar characteristics. These characteristics may vary based on humidity, rainfall or temperature. During primary differentiation, the species selection is based on the physiochemical characteristics based on the environmental gradients. Furthermore, they play an important role in adjusting to various physiochemical drifts that take place.Įcoclines begin their differentiation at two stages: primary and secondary. This pattern of adaption is of great importance. The ability to survive is determined by the adaptations species show to subtle environmental changes. The concept of ecocline is heavily dependent on selection and gene flow. These variations cause a continuous gradual drift in character. It deals with traits such as pH variation, salinity variation, water density variation and chemical variation. This concept is defined as the physiochemical gradient of a characteristic or a trait of a species across a specific geographical range. Side by Side Comparison – Ecocline vs Ecotone in Tabular FormĮcocline is a terminology used in ecology. Similarities Between Ecocline and Ecotoneĥ. It is where two communities actually meet and integrate. Ecotone is basically described as a transition zone between two biomes. It is a variation of the physicochemical environment of one or two physicochemical factors. Ecocline is described as a physical transition zone. Ecocline and ecotone are two transition zones in an ecosystem. Species begin to adapt to varying conditions that distinguish species across environments. However, genetics play an important role in this process. The distribution of species in different ecosystems varies with different parameters. The key difference between ecocline and ecotone is that ecocline is based on the variation of physicochemical factors across ecosystems, while ecotone is based on the variation between species existing in different ecosystems.