PRESENTATION ON- ECOTONE
PRESENTED BY:-BY:-
SAKSHI PRIYA
BSC BOTANY (HONS.) PART-
II
SESSION- 18-21

 An ecotone is an area that acts as a boundary or a
transition between two ecosystems.
 A common example could be an area of marshland
between a river and its riverbank.
 Ecotones are of great environmental importance.
Because the area is a transition between two
ecosystems or biomes, it is natural that it contains a
large variety of species of fauna and flora as the area
is influenced by both the bordering ecosystems.
INTRODUCTION

 Example-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 riverbank or marshland (between dry and wet).

* An ecotonal area often has a higher density of organisms of one species
and a greater number of species than are found in either
flanking community. Some organisms need a transitional area for activities
such as courtship, nesting, or foraging for food.

 It may be narrow (between grassland and forest) or
wide (between forest and desert).
 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 the community or ecosystem.
 A well-developed ecotone contains some organisms
which are entirely different from that of the
adjoining communities.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF ECOTONE

• It has some of the characteristics of each
bordering biological community and often contains
species not found in the overlapping communities.
• The influence of the two bordering communities on
each other is known as the edge effect.

 Edge effect refers to the changes in population or
community structures that occur at the boundary of two
habitats (ecotone).
 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
ecotone between the forest and the desert.
EDGE EFFECT-
EDGE SPECIES

FIG:- EDGE EFFECT

 An Ecotone can basically be formed in two ways:-
1.) Natural Ecotones- can be formed through abiotic factors
such as changes in soil composition. Ecotones are very
common on mountain ranges due to a wide variety of
climatic conditions observed on the slopes of mountains.
2.)Human interaction Ecotones -can also be formed as a
result of human interaction. For example, the transition
between areas of forest and cleared land.
FORMATION OF
ECOTONES

FIG:- NATURAL ECOTONE
FIG:- ARTIFICIAL ECOTONE

 The Ecotone has the characteristics of the two bordering ecosystem. As a
result, it has a very high density of organisms and variety of species can
be found in an ecotone.
 They act as a bridge for gene-flow from one community to other and
provide habitat to a large number of species.
 Due to these characteristics, ecotones have a very rich and vibrant
biodiversity. Therefore, ecotones are areas of a great environmental
importance.
 An Ecotone can act as a buffer-zone protecting the neighbouring
ecosystem from possible environmental damage. For example,
Mangrove forests provide a natural buffer against Tsunamis and a
wetland could absorb pollutants to prevent them from entering into an
estuary.
 Ecotones are very ecologically sensitive areas. They are natural
indicators of climate change and its consequences. Thereby, they have
been a matter of greater scientific interests.
IMPORTANCE OF
ECOTONES

 COLLEGE BOTANY-VOLUME 3
 SCIENCE DIRECT
 BIOLOGY DISCUSSION
 NEOSTENCIL
 CLIMATE RESEARCH
REFERENCES


ecotone.pptx

  • 1.
    PRESENTATION ON- ECOTONE PRESENTEDBY:-BY:- SAKSHI PRIYA BSC BOTANY (HONS.) PART- II SESSION- 18-21
  • 2.
      An ecotoneis an area that acts as a boundary or a transition between two ecosystems.  A common example could be an area of marshland between a river and its riverbank.  Ecotones are of great environmental importance. Because the area is a transition between two ecosystems or biomes, it is natural that it contains a large variety of species of fauna and flora as the area is influenced by both the bordering ecosystems. INTRODUCTION
  • 3.
      Example-the mangroveforests represent an ecotone between marine and terrestrial ecosystem.  Other examples are grassland (between forest and desert), estuary (between fresh water and salt water) and riverbank or marshland (between dry and wet).
  • 4.
     * An ecotonalarea often has a higher density of organisms of one species and a greater number of species than are found in either flanking community. Some organisms need a transitional area for activities such as courtship, nesting, or foraging for food.
  • 5.
      It maybe narrow (between grassland and forest) or wide (between forest and desert).  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 the community or ecosystem.  A well-developed ecotone contains some organisms which are entirely different from that of the adjoining communities. CHARACTERISTICS OF ECOTONE
  • 6.
     • It hassome of the characteristics of each bordering biological community and often contains species not found in the overlapping communities. • The influence of the two bordering communities on each other is known as the edge effect.
  • 7.
      Edge effectrefers to the changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two habitats (ecotone).  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 ecotone between the forest and the desert. EDGE EFFECT- EDGE SPECIES
  • 8.
  • 9.
      An Ecotonecan basically be formed in two ways:- 1.) Natural Ecotones- can be formed through abiotic factors such as changes in soil composition. Ecotones are very common on mountain ranges due to a wide variety of climatic conditions observed on the slopes of mountains. 2.)Human interaction Ecotones -can also be formed as a result of human interaction. For example, the transition between areas of forest and cleared land. FORMATION OF ECOTONES
  • 10.
  • 11.
      The Ecotonehas the characteristics of the two bordering ecosystem. As a result, it has a very high density of organisms and variety of species can be found in an ecotone.  They act as a bridge for gene-flow from one community to other and provide habitat to a large number of species.  Due to these characteristics, ecotones have a very rich and vibrant biodiversity. Therefore, ecotones are areas of a great environmental importance.  An Ecotone can act as a buffer-zone protecting the neighbouring ecosystem from possible environmental damage. For example, Mangrove forests provide a natural buffer against Tsunamis and a wetland could absorb pollutants to prevent them from entering into an estuary.  Ecotones are very ecologically sensitive areas. They are natural indicators of climate change and its consequences. Thereby, they have been a matter of greater scientific interests. IMPORTANCE OF ECOTONES
  • 12.
      COLLEGE BOTANY-VOLUME3  SCIENCE DIRECT  BIOLOGY DISCUSSION  NEOSTENCIL  CLIMATE RESEARCH REFERENCES
  • 13.