# Ecology Define Ecology. > [!ai]+ AI > > Ecology is a branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their environment, including the distribution and abundance of organisms, biological interactions that affect population growth, and ecosystems structure and dynamics. It encompasses various sub-disciplines such as population ecology, community ecology, ecosystem ecology, and evolutionary ecology. Define the sub disciplines of ecology. > [!ai]+ AI > > > 1. **Population Ecology:** It studies the dynamics of species populations and how they interact with the environment. It focuses on issues like population size, distribution, and growth rate. > 2. **Community Ecology:** This sub-discipline examines how communities of organisms interact with one another within their environment. It looks at the structure, organization, and dynamics of communities. > 3. **Ecosystem Ecology:** This branch is concerned with studying entire ecosystems, including both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components of an area. It investigates processes such as nutrient cycling and energy flow. > 4. **Evolutionary Ecology:** This field focuses on the evolutionary processes that shape the ecological relationships between species over time. It explores how these processes influence adaptations, species diversity, and the co-evolution of species. >5. **Behavioral Ecology:** This sub-discipline studies how an organism's behavior contributes to its survival and reproductive success in its natural environment. >6. **Conservation Ecology:** This branch emphasizes the application of ecological science to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded ecosystems. >7. **Landscape Ecology:** This field examines spatial variations in landscapes, ranging from wilderness to cities, and their influence on ecological processes. >8. **Urban Ecology:** This is a relatively new sub-discipline that focusses on understanding the complex relationships between urban environments and the organisms that live there.