ecology

ecology
The branch of biology concerned with the total complex of interrelationships among living organisms, encompassing the relations of organisms to each other, to the environment, and to the entire energy balance within a given ecosystem. SYN: bioecology, bionomics (2). [eco- + G. logos, study]
- human e. the relations of persons to their total (biologic and social) environment.
- landscape e. the study of the reciprocal effects of spatial pattern on ecologic processes.

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ecol·o·gy -jē n, pl -gies
1) a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environments
2) the totality or pattern of relations between organisms and their environment
3) HUMAN ECOLOGY
eco·log·i·cal .ē-kə-'läj-i-kəl, .ek-ə- also eco·log·ic -ik adj
eco·log·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adv

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n.
the study of the relationships between humans, plants and animals, and the environment, including the way in which human activities may affect other animal populations and alter natural surroundings.
ecological adj.
ecologist n.

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ecol·o·gy (e-kolґə-je) [eco- + -logy] the science of the relationship between organisms and their environments; the study of the effect of environment on the life history of organisms.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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