Zonation refers to the arrangement or patterning of ecosystems or communities in distinct zones, typically influenced by environmental gradients such as altitude, depth, or temperature. Zonation is significant in ecology and environmental science for understanding the distribution of species in different habitats, the effects of environmental stressors, and the organization of ecological communities.
Reference: Odum, E. P. (1971). “Fundamentals of Ecology.” Saunders College Publishing.