Ecology

Definition

The branch of biology that deals with the interactions of organisms with their environment and each other.

Etymology

From Greek 'oikos', meaning 'house' or 'environment', and 'logia', meaning 'study of'.

Example

Ecology studies how various species of insects interact within their ecosystems and how environmental changes can impact their populations.

Synonyms

• Environmental biology
• Ecosystem science

Related Terms

• Ecosystem
• Habitat
• Biodiversity
• Population dynamics

Usage Notes

Ecology encompasses various subfields, such as behavioral ecology, population ecology, and ecosystem ecology, each focusing on different aspects of organism-environment interactions.