Tension zone explained

A tension zone is a transitional zone between two distinctive zones, the zones may be influenced by climatic factors,^{[1] [2]} and geological variation.^[3] creating a floristic tension zone.^[4] A marine tension zone may be affected by variables such as depth, climate or salinity.^[5] In a tension zone there is the increased probability of hybridization between species of the separate zones and thus the tension zone may also be a hybrid zone.^[6]

Historically tension zones were entirely natural in origin, however human activity has altered the tension zones in a variety of areas all over the world.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Wisconsin's weather and climate By Joseph M. Moran, Edward J. Hopkins p. 112
2. Great Lakes Coastal Wetlands: Abiotic and Floristic Characterization, U.S. E.P.A. http://www.epa.gov/ecopage/wetlands/glc/glctext.html
3. Popular Science Monthly, Volume 57 p. 108
4. http://www.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/floristiczone.html Michigan State University :The Floristic Tension Zone
5. Advances in Marine Biology, Volume 31 edited by J. H. S. Blaxter, Alan J. Southward p. 30
6. Barton, N. H., & Hewitt, G. M. (1985). Analysis of hybrid zones. Annual review of Ecology and Systematics, 113-148.
7. http://usda.gov/use/worldsoils/papers/tensionzone-paper.html Global Desertification Tension Zones