environmental gradients

Environmental gradients are gradual changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature, light, moisture, or nutrient levels, across a geographic area. These changes influence how living organisms grow, behave, and interact within ecosystems. For example, as you move from a riverbank to a mountain top, temperature and moisture might decrease gradually. Understanding these gradients helps scientists predict where different plants and animals are likely to thrive based on environmental conditions, and how ecosystems may shift with changes in climate or landscape.