transition zone
Between two regions
A transition zone is an area where one region, environment, or condition gradually shifts into another.
In ecology, it's the boundary where two ecosystems meet and blend: The transition zone between forest and grassland supports unique species.
Urban planners use it for areas shifting from residential to commercial use.
In any field, it marks the space where distinct categories overlap rather than divide sharply.
Changes at ecosystem boundaries
- ecotoneBoundary between distinct habitats
- treelineElevation limit for forests
- timberlineElevation beyond which trees fail
edge effect
Changes at ecosystem boundaries
- ecotoneBoundary between distinct habitats
- treelineElevation limit for forests
- timberlineElevation beyond which trees fail
plate boundary
Where Earth's sections meet
- racket sportsserve, volley, forehand, backhand, doubles
- zonesterritory, district, DMZ, Korean DMZ, neutral territory
- Earth's interiorcrust, mantle, core, inner core, outer core
- cilia and flagellacilia, flagella, flagellum, microtubules, tubulin
- ecotonesecotone, forest edge, treeline, timberline, fringe
- ski jumptakeoff, outrun, start gate, knoll, landing area
transition zonecrisp edge
clean break · bright line · cutoff point · line of demarcation · fault line
transition zoneheartland
Central region of significance
interior · central region · equilibrium state · steady state · center
zone, transit, transition, transitory, transitions, transitional, transited, transiting