In ecology, describing a gradual change in organisms or populations across geographic space due to environmental factors rather than genetic isolation.
From 'exo-' (outside) and 'cline,' derived from Greek 'klinein' meaning 'to slope or incline,' combining to describe environmental gradients that cause variation across populations.
Exoclinal variation explains why bird species in northern climates are often larger than southern relatives—it's all environmental pressure, not genetic separation, so they could interbreed if they met.
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