Biotone
Encyclopedia
A biotone is a biogeographical
region characterised not by distinctive biota but rather by a distinctive transition from one set of biota to another. They often contain the limits of distribution of the biota of neighbouring regions.
Biotones are especially useful in marine
biogeography, where the movement of water may result in substantial overlap in the floral and faunal components of adjacent regions. In such case the regions of overlap is considered a biotone.
A simple example would be mid-latitude waters where tropical and temperate waters mix. This region is a biotone characterised by the transition between tropical and temperate. It would contain both tropical and temperate biota. Tropical biota that do not extend into temperate areas would be at the limit of their range in this biotone, and vice versa. The co-occurrence of biota that are normally distinct can result in unusual ecological relationships.
Biogeography
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species , organisms, and ecosystems in space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities vary in a highly regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, isolation and habitat area...
region characterised not by distinctive biota but rather by a distinctive transition from one set of biota to another. They often contain the limits of distribution of the biota of neighbouring regions.
Biotones are especially useful in marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
biogeography, where the movement of water may result in substantial overlap in the floral and faunal components of adjacent regions. In such case the regions of overlap is considered a biotone.
A simple example would be mid-latitude waters where tropical and temperate waters mix. This region is a biotone characterised by the transition between tropical and temperate. It would contain both tropical and temperate biota. Tropical biota that do not extend into temperate areas would be at the limit of their range in this biotone, and vice versa. The co-occurrence of biota that are normally distinct can result in unusual ecological relationships.