ecotone

An ecotone is a transitional zone where two different ecosystems or habitats meet and interact. Think of it as a border area that shares features of both environments, such as a grassland merging into a forest. These zones are often richer in species diversity because they accommodate plants, animals, and microorganisms from both ecosystems, as well as species that specifically thrive in the overlap. Ecotones are important for ecological processes like nutrient cycling, migration, and adaptation, and they can be sensitive indicators of environmental change or disturbance.