clinal
- adjective
- /ˈklaɪnəl/
- Specialized
:
clinal
- Scientists have found that human height displays clinal differences, increasing in average with proximity to the equator.
Examples
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Across this region are clinal changes in taxa that lack clear breaks, but are sufficiently large that faunas at either end bear little resemblance to each other.
Academic text (2007) -
The clinal distribution of specific traits typically cuts across presumed human groupings in various ways rather than falling along clearly definable boundaries.
Academic text (2006) -
In this context, NMFS recognizes that thresholds for threatened and endangered status must be flexible enough to deal with threats to groups of populations (meta-populations) and clinal populations, as well as more discrete population units.
Academic text (1991) -
In ecology, researchers often study how species show clinal variation in response to changing environmental conditions across a landscape.
-
The clinal variation observed in the coloration of the butterflies changes gradually as one moves from the mountains to the valley.
Synonyms
75
3.0
Happening slowly and steadily, not suddenly
To change in small steps over time
How Gradual
- Specialized
37
4.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Clinal comes from the Greek root klinein which means 'to lean', and it is the same root as in incline. Think of a slow change up a hill where plants slowly shift as you climb — that's a 'clinal' change, a gradual shift across a region.