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In biology, a cline,[1] or 'ecocline', describes a series of connected populations in a species. These populations show a continuous gradient of traits and genetics.[2] The term was coined by the English evolutionary biologist Julian Huxley in 1938. He defined a cline as a species whose members fall into a series of sub-species with continuous change in characters over a geographical area.[3][4]

Introduction[change | change source]



Genetically, clines result from the change of allele frequencies within the gene pool of the species in question.[5][6][7]

References[change | change source]

  1. Greek: κλίνω = to possess or exhibit gradient, to lean
  2. For definition and an etymology, see Merriam-Webster entry for "cline", or (in Greek).
  5. Microsoft Encarta Premium 2009: "cline"
  6. King, Stansfield, Mulligan 2006. A dictionary of genetics. 7th ed, Oxford University Press:"cline"
  7. Begon, Townsend, Harper 2006. Ecology: From individuals to ecosystems, Blackwell, 4th ed. p10