Ecology

Ecology [A] is the <a href="/facts/Natural_science/8hg81Q2p">natural science</a> of the relationships among living <a href="/facts/Organism/j8JkL09u">organisms</a> and their <a href="/facts/Natural_environment/NzGY148M">environment</a>. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, <a href="/facts/Population/ArxshNuB">population</a>, <a href="/facts/Community_(ecology)/HnQwVCdz">community</a>, <a href="/facts/Ecosystem/kVE8mSmR">ecosystem</a>, and <a href="/facts/Biosphere/P1ltA4sb">biosphere</a> levels. Ecology overlaps with the closely related sciences of <a href="/facts/Biogeography/0FV2wM36">biogeography</a>, <a href="/facts/Evolutionary_biology/8tBoG55U">evolutionary biology</a>, <a href="/facts/Genetics/bu8wne0A">genetics</a>, <a href="/facts/Ethology/dM3CpysA">ethology</a>, and <a href="/facts/Natural_history/pSlAvbTX">natural history</a>.
Ecology is a branch of <a href="/facts/Biology/1M1ee3pB">biology</a>, and is the study of <a href="/facts/Abundance_(ecology)/yKCawbee">abundance</a>, <a href="/facts/Biomass_(ecology)/A5rDsUax">biomass</a>, and distribution of organisms in the context of the environment. It encompasses life processes, interactions, and <a href="/facts/Adaptation/5K2gNpDB">adaptations</a>; movement of materials and <a href="/facts/Energy/wd8PrQM7">energy</a> through living communities; <a href="/facts/Ecological_succession/4LbHrU2s">successional</a> development of ecosystems; cooperation, competition, and predation within and between <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a>; and patterns of <a href="/facts/Biodiversity/GruakEzs">biodiversity</a> and its effect on ecosystem processes.
Ecology has practical applications in fields such as <a href="/facts/Conservation_biology/S2693mIF">conservation biology</a>, <a href="/facts/Wetland/9abbP7CR">wetland</a> management, <a href="/facts/Natural_resource_management/VTS4IMbA">natural resource management</a>, and <a href="/facts/Human_ecology/jUe1VzN6">human ecology</a>.
The word ecology (<a href="/facts/German_language/oWaQIDA8">German</a>: Ökologie) was coined in 1866 by the German scientist <a href="/facts/Ernst_Haeckel/osqrW7hB">Ernst Haeckel</a>. The science of ecology as we know it today began with a group of American botanists in the 1890s. <a href="/facts/Evolution/Hj0qAaBk">Evolutionary</a> concepts relating to adaptation and <a href="/facts/Natural_selection/JXTte6en">natural selection</a> are cornerstones of modern <a href="/facts/Theoretical_ecology/aIzx7tr4">ecological theory</a>.
Ecosystems are dynamically interacting systems of organisms, the communities they make up, and the non-living (<a href="/facts/Abiotic_component/CA3Dwtta">abiotic</a>) components of their environment. Ecosystem processes, such as <a href="/facts/Primary_production/14RzcF5E">primary production</a>, <a href="/facts/Nutrient_cycling/S57nuGbQ">nutrient cycling</a>, and <a href="/facts/Niche_construction/70q5hWSK">niche construction</a>, regulate the flux of energy and matter through an environment. Ecosystems have <a href="/facts/Biophysics/l9u5gqCy">biophysical</a> feedback mechanisms that moderate processes acting on living (<a href="/facts/Biotic_component/fzEc9c8k">biotic</a>) and abiotic components of the planet. Ecosystems sustain life-supporting functions and provide <a href="/facts/Ecosystem_service/Fm4owYGV">ecosystem services</a> like <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a> production (food, fuel, fiber, and medicine), the regulation of <a href="/facts/Climate/f57XrNFU">climate</a>, global <a href="/facts/Biogeochemical_cycle/3vG5KBu4">biogeochemical cycles</a>, <a href="/facts/Water_filtration/1hGhkTKv">water filtration</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_formation/sJty93z9">soil formation</a>, <a href="/facts/Erosion/gaGJXy0W">erosion</a> control, flood protection, and many other natural features of scientific, historical, economic, or intrinsic value.

Ecology open-in-new

Ecology