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Ecology and Biology: An Overview

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Ecology and biology: An overview Ecology has been defined as "the branch of biological sciences dealing with the interactions between living beings and their environment," versus the study of the morphology or behavior of species in isolation (Nahle 1997). Another definition of ecology is that it is "the scientific study of interactions of organisms with one another and with the physical and chemical environment" (What is ecology, 2012, Science Education). Ecology has become associated with the study of specifically environmentally-related problems such as pollution, global warming, and the ways in which the human species has had a specific (often negative) impact upon the earth. The goal of many research studies in ecology today revolves around finding ways to minimize the negative impact of specific behaviors on the planet and to optimize the use of natural resources. The study of ecology is also critically linked to a more full understanding of evolutionary biology both human evolution and the evolution of all species upon the earth. "All evolutionary change takes place in response to ecological interactions that operate on the population, community, ecosystem, biome and biosphere levels" (What is ecology, 2012, Science Education). The development of one species affects other species. Patterns of species development likewise affect the planet, as environmental changes affect us. The discipline of ecology divides the ecosystem, or the entirety of living beings, into

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