Just as ecosystems are defined by the interaction of biotic and abiotic components, ecotope classification should stratify landscapes based on a combination of both biotic and abiotic factors, including vegetation, soils, hydrology, and other factors.
12.
The term " patch " was used in place of the term " ecotope ", by Foreman and Godron ( 1986 ), who defined a patch as " a nonlinear surface area differing in appearance from its surroundings ".
