An edge habitat is the boundary where two different ecosystems or biome types meet, such as where woodlands meet grasslands or wetlands transition to dry land. These areas are characterized by unique environmental conditions, including differences in temperature, light and species interactions, that can foster a greater diversity of plant and animal species than either of the two distinct ecosystems.
Some animal species are especially well adapted to edge habitats and benefit because they can access resources from both adjacent ecosystems, such as deer which feed in open meadows while finding cover in adjacent forests. However, edge habitats can also be detrimental to species that require large, unbroken areas of habitat.
Edge habitats can also serve as important corridors for wildlife by providing connectivity between fragmented habitats for migration, obtaining food, resting, colonizing new areas and genetic exchanges between populations.
The concept of edge habitat is similar to that of ecotone. However, it differs in that the latter places emphasis on the transitional zone between the two different habitats or biomes, which can range in width from just a few meters to hundreds of meters or even kilometers, rather than just on the boundary between them.