Ecology is the branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings. It is the study of ecosystems. Ecologists study the interactions between organisms and their environment at different levels, from individual organisms to populations, communities, and ecosystems.
The term "ecology" was coined by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel in 1866. The field of ecology has its roots in natural history and has been greatly influenced by the work of Charles Darwin and other evolutionary biologists.
Ecology is a crucial field for understanding the complex relationships that govern the natural world. It is essential for addressing environmental problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The principles of ecology are applied in a wide range of fields, including conservation biology, resource management, and agriculture.