Definition of Ecology

Definition of Ecology

It's difficult to think and talk 'green' without thinking about ecology and our ecosystem. But how we we define ecology?

What is the history of ecology... how about ecology trends and the problems associated with ecology? All these questions and more are important if one wants to venture into living green and helping the environment. So if this describes at least one of your life goals, you are at the right place.


Definition of Ecology / The role of the organism...

Ecology is defined as 'the interdisciplinary scientific study of the distribution and profusion of organisms and their interactions with their environment.' From the German’s perspective, it is defined as the 'comprehensive science of the association of the organism to the environment.'

An organism’s external environment includes abiotic and biotic factors such as climate and geology, and the members of the species and other species that share a territory, respectively.


Definition of Ecology / A Branch of Biology

Ecological study include several objects, from population processes, interspecific interactions, to biochemical cycling. It is usually considered as a branch of Biology which generally studies living organisms and is linked with the maximum levels of biological organization.

The biological study refers to species physiology, morphology, pathology and ontogeny while the ecological study is the study of its prey, population and metapopulation status, distribution and dependence on environmental conditions. Because of its huge extent, ecology is frequently regarded to be a holistic science. It is also interrelated to other disciplines such as molecular ecology which uses genetic tools, paleoecology which uses tools from archeology and theoretical ecology which uses extremely complicated mathematical models.


Definition of Ecology / An Applied Science

Aside from pure scientific inquiry, ecology is considered a highly applied science. It is also suitable for philosophical ideologies like social ecology and deep ecolog or green ecology, which is sometimes synonymous to environmentalism. The focal point on the interrelations concerning organisms and their particular surrounding makes ecology a multidisciplinary science that represents on many other branches.

Ecology’s extensiveness scope and discipline cover many sub-disciplines classified by complexities, and the number of unit and procedure in the system. It can also be subdivided according to the species of the interest into fields, or by biome. But the subdivisions are not mutually exclusive as many of them have a common ground or go together and enlighten each other.

The fundamental principles of ecology can be studied at several levels ranging from large to small scale. These levels comprises the population level, the bioeconosis level, ecosystem level, and the biosphere level.


Sources

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/staff/lackey/pubs/question.htm
http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/ecology/html/erasteps/erastep3.html
http://www.ecostudies.org/definition_ecology.html

For more information on ecology and keepin' it green just use the following links:

Ecology Symbol

Green Ecology

Ecosystem Ecology

Ecology For Kids

Ecology Problems

Trends in Ecology

History of Ecology

What is Ocean Ecology

What is Population Ecology

What is Soil Ecology

Articles on Ecology

Washington Dept. of Ecology

National Wildlife Federation

Quotes about Ecology


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