Question

Edge effect is observed in
A. Ecozone
B. Ecotone
C. Biotope
D. Ecosphere

Answer 1

Hint: As the name suggests, this type of effect will occur on the edges of the two different habitats where the biodiversity is different and the habitat conditions are also different from each other.

Complete answer:
The edge effect is responsible for the mixing up of two different communities having an entirely different characteristic and living condition which are a part of different areas where a similar species of organism lives forming a community. This usually occurs at the boundary of the area in which two different communities are living and unlike the rooms in a house the boundaries of these communities are not guarded by the walls and it is an open area. So, the mixing up of the species is normal.
The area which is at the boundary of two different habitats is known as the habitats and the edge effect is mostly seen in this area only. For example, the mangrove area between the marine and terrestrial ecosystem can be termed as an ecotone and the edge effect is seen where animals having ability to survive both in water and land can be seen. An older ecotone will observe a different set of species and community as compared to the habitats comprising that ecotone because the organisms would have adapted themselves in order to live in the intermediate condition of the two habitats.
The other two terms if we take into consideration then we will see that these terms are basically used for a specific community or ecological species living in an area. Ecozone is an area where one can observe different varieties of flora and fauna which can not be seen in any other area. While if we see a biotope, it is also somewhat similar to the ecozone where the specific set of organisms adapted to its conditions live there.
The term sphere is related to the entire planet and the matter and conditions of that planet. The ecospheres do not measure the area of the habitat horizontally rather it is related with the altitude of the area. Most of the life on earth Is specific to a single ecosphere only.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Note: The edge effect should not be associated with the ecosphere as after it not many of the species are residing and the definition of the edge effect should be carefully interpreted as it is a combination of different species.