cline Definition
a gradual change in a character or feature across the distributional range of a species or population, usually correlated with an environmental or geographic transition.
Using cline: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cline" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The cline of fur coloration from light to dark across the Arctic fox's range is an adaptation to camouflage in different environments.
Example
The frequency of the sickle cell trait in human populations shows a cline from high in sub-Saharan Africa to low in Europe and Asia.
cline Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with cline
Bergmann's cline
a pattern of increasing body size among populations of a species living in colder climates
Example
Bergmann's cline can be observed in many mammalian species, including polar bears and reindeer.
Gloger's cline
a pattern of increasing pigmentation in animal populations living in warmer and more humid environments
Example
Gloger's cline can be seen in many bird species, such as house sparrows and pigeons.
a pattern of variation in a species' traits that follows a latitudinal gradient
Example
The latitudinal cline in plant height is thought to be driven by differences in temperature and day length.
Summary: cline in Brief
The term 'cline' [klain] refers to a gradual change in a characteristic or feature across a species or population's distributional range, often linked to environmental or geographic transitions. Examples include the Arctic fox's fur coloration and the frequency of the sickle cell trait in human populations. The concept extends to patterns like Bergmann's and Gloger's clines, which describe increasing body size and pigmentation in colder and warmer environments, respectively.
