ecotype

noun

eco·​type ˈē-kə-ˌtīp How to pronounce ecotype (audio)
ˈe-
: a population of a species that survives as a distinct group through environmental selection and isolation and that is comparable with a taxonomic subspecies
ecotypic adjective

Examples of ecotype in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Join 4 others in the comments View Comments While there is just one species of orca there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behavior. Katie Hunt, CNN, 29 Nov. 2024 Orcas are found worldwide, and while there is just one species there are multiple ecotypes, or groups that share similarities in their appearance and behaviors, including hunting strategies and prey preference. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024 Based on this prey preference and their small pod size, researchers think the Humboldt Current pod might be from the type A ecotype. Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024 There are five ecotypes in the Northern Hemisphere and five in the Southern Hemisphere. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024 But the ecotype of the pod being studied by García Cegarra has thus far remained a mystery. Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024 The Humboldt Current’s orcas have yet to be assigned to an ecotype, and documenting their dolphin-hunting provides clues about where this population might belong, researchers reported Thursday in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Sep. 2024 The duo — known as John Coe and Aquarius — are the last surviving members of the Scottish West Coast Community of orcas, a distinct ecotype distinguished by their unique eyepatch and large size, according to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, a conservation nonprofit. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 26 June 2024 Numerous orca populations composed of several ecotypes exist worldwide, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1916, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ecotype was in 1916

Dictionary Entries Near ecotype

Cite this Entry

“Ecotype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecotype. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

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