ecotone

[ ek-uh-tohn, ee-kuh- ]
/ ˈɛk əˌtoʊn, ˈi kə- /

noun Ecology.

the transition zone between two different plant communities, as that between forest and prairie.

Origin of ecotone

1900–05; eco- + tone < Greek tónos tension

OTHER WORDS FROM ecotone

ec·o·ton·al, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for ecotone

British Dictionary definitions for ecotone

ecotone
/ (ˈiːkəˌtəʊn, ˈɛkə-) /

noun

the zone between two major ecological communities

Derived forms of ecotone

ecotonal, adjective

Word Origin for ecotone

C20: from eco ( logy) + -tone, from Greek tonos tension, tone

Scientific definitions for ecotone

ecotone
[ ēkə-tōn′ ]

A transitional zone between two ecological communities, as between a forest and grassland or a river and its estuary. An ecotone has its own characteristics in addition to sharing certain characteristics of the two communities. See also edge effect.