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Panorama: a distinct ecotone
| Title | Info |
|---|---|
| Source | Dan L. Perlman |
| Ecosystems | Grasslands, savannas |
| Selection and adaptations | Extreme environments |
| Conservation | Nature preserves |
| Lessons | Nature preserves; Panoramas |
| Date | September 21, 2008 |
| Location | Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve,San Mateo County,California,USA,North America |
Plant communities typically grade gently into each other, but here is an example of a very sharp ecotone (the transition zone from one community to another). This grassland is underlain by serpentine soils, which typically have high concentrations of heavy metals and magnesium and low levels of essential plant nutrients. As a result, very few plant species flourish in these areas; the shrubs are probably on a different soil type.
