When we read or hear the word ecotone It's more common for us to confuse the concept with something related to an ecological tone. It's a word that isn't used in everyday vocabulary, and therefore, its meaning is often unknown. An ecotone is simply a natural transition zone between two different and adjacent ecosystems.
In this article we are going to tell you what the characteristics of the ecotone are and how they are formed.
What is an ecotone
An ecotone is the natural zone that exists between ecosystems with different characteristics. For example, we can find a transition zone between a forest and a plain. The forest does not end at a point, but rather gradually decreases in density. The ecological boundary that exists between ecosystems can be up to several hundred meters or even kilometers. These systems can be:
- Biomes. A biome is the geographic area defined by a series of climatic and geological factors that determine the vegetation and fauna that we find in it.
- Landscapes.When we analyze a landscape, we can see that the end of a type of ecosystem is not completely defined; rather, as a natural space, it has its transitional stages, between which one zone ends and the next begins.
- Ecosystems.An ecosystem is an area where numerous species coexist that interact with each other and with abiotic elements.
- Communities or populations. In this case, we speak of plant populations and tree species. They are the species that most represent the transition zones between different systems.
Why does an ecotone form
These transition zones are formed due to the action of different physical and environmental variables. Among the characteristics that most influence are the climate, topography, composition and structure of the soil or the presence of different types of populations, whether they are animals or plants, which are called biotope.
Depending on these variables and their values, the transition can be more abrupt or more gradual. For example, the existence of a river course can be the end of one system and the beginning of another more abruptly, as in the case of Orinoco riverHowever, the presence of a mountain and a considerable slope can cause the end of a forest to gradually transition.
It should be noted that this intermediate zone has a great biological confluence. This means that there are interactions between species in adjacent areas. We also find a greater biological wealth. As greater interactions exist between the individuals of different species, more adaptations will occur in any type of habitat or biotope. This phenomenon is known as the edge effect.
Each species or community of species acts in a certain way depending on the environmental conditions that exist in the ecotone. For example, these conditions may be due to type of pH of the soil, the average temperature, the incident solar radiation, the wind regime or the amount of water available, among others. Taking into account the values of these variables and the interaction between living beings, we can see that each species will specifically fulfill a function within the ecotone. This is called an ecological niche. We can find ecological niches where the functions of each living being can be organizer, decomposer, transporter, or dispenser, among others.
Ecotone types
As we have mentioned before, there are different types of ecotone depending on the type of ecosystem that exists between the transition zone. These areas can be divided or categorized in different ways.
1º If we refer to the type of biome, the ecotones will be determined by climatic factors such as water, temperature and topographic factors.
2nd If we refer to the type of landscape, the ecotones will be characterized by the type of climate, the topography and some chemical characteristics of the soil may also be included.
3rd if we talk about ecotones of populations or communities, we have to talk about the influence of the interaction between species and their effect on their composition and distribution.
We are going to put some examples of ecotones and their characteristics:
Tundra and taiga with boreal forest
If we go to America and Europe we can see that there are borders between the tundra and the boreal forest. This is an example of an ecotone between two different biomes that are characterized by having a different climate between each of them. In the tundra we find polar areas with temperatures that do not exceed ten degrees on average. Rainfall is usually 250mm per year. One of the characteristics that stands out in this area is the permafrost. It is a soil that remains frozen throughout the year.
On the other hand, we have the boreal forest that is located south of the tundras. In this ecosystem the average temperature ranges from 30 degrees below zero to 19 degreesIts rainfall averages between 400 and 450 mm per year. Therefore, the ecotone that forms between these two biomes is not very extensive. However, in Europe, we can find an ecotone that stretches up to 200 kilometers. It is characterized by a fragmented landscape with areas covered by dense forests and others dominated by lichens and heather.
Wetlands are another type of ecotone that straddles a terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. They play a fundamental role in environmental sanitation, making their conservation vital. This zone helps improve water quality by capturing sediment, absorbing nutrients, and releasing chemicals. These ecotones can include:
- Oasis in the desert.
- Forest-savanna-desert.
- Forest-páramo-vegetation area with low height.
- Coast
As you can see, all these geographical areas must be conserved because they are of great biological importance. They represent transitions between different life forms across the planet, which continue to contribute to the development of living beings.
