edge effect

American  

noun

Ecology.

1. the tendency toward greater variety and density of plant and animal populations in an ecotone.

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edge effect Scientific  

/ ĕj /

1. The influence that two ecological communities have on each other along the boundary (called the ecotone) that separates them. Because such an area contains habitats common to both communities as well as others unique to the transition zone itself, the edge effect is typically characterized by greater species diversity and population density than occur in either of the individual communities.

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Etymology

Origin of edge effect

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

"If you suddenly take that scheme away you get that cliff edge effect where all of a sudden a large proportion of the network suddenly becomes unviable".

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2023