1. of, relating to, or showing a cline; exhibiting gradual change in characteristics across a geographic area or population
Usage: biology; ecology

Examples

• The clinal variation in bird plumage color reflects adaptation to different climates across the continent.
• Scientists observed clinal differences in body size among populations of the same species.
• Clinal patterns in genetic markers help researchers understand population history and migration.
• The clinal distribution of traits suggests natural selection is acting across the species' range.