edge effect

edge effect

n.

1. The occurrence of greater species diversity and biological density in an ecotone than in any of the adjacent ecological communities.

2. A phenomenon, such as a sandhi rule or cliticization, that happens at the edges of words, phrases, or other linguistic units.

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edge effect  (j)

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.