Final answer:
An edge-avoiding species lives within the borders of a habitat patch, avoiding abrupt changes at the edges. These species prefer the core of the patch where conditions are stable.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes a species living within the borders of a habitat patch, avoiding abrupt habitat change at the edges, is called an "edge-avoiding species" or an "edge-sensitive species". These species prefer to stay within the core of the habitat patch where the conditions are more stable and suitable for their survival.
For example, certain bird species, like the Golden-winged Warbler, tend to avoid the edges of forests and instead inhabit the interior portions of the forest patches. This behavior helps them avoid potential negative effects of edge effects such as predation or competition with edge-tolerant species.
Overall, edge-avoiding species play an important role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance within habitat patches.