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ecologythe study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈkɑːlədʒi/

Example Sentences

  • My ecology professor made us hug trees to 'understand their feelings' - I think he's taking field research too literally!
  • The ecology of this wetland supports hundreds of bird species.
  • Climate change is drastically altering global ecology patterns.

ecology

NOUN

[/ɪˈkɑːlədʒi/]

the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment

Students studied the ecology of the rainforest during their field trip.
💡 Concept

Students studied the ecology of the rainforest during their field trip.

Understanding ecology helps us protect the environment. (🌿 Nature + 🔄 Balance → Ecology = how living things and nature stay in balance.)
🧠 Mnemonic

Understanding ecology helps us protect the environment. (🌿 Nature + 🔄 Balance → Ecology = how living things and nature stay in balance.)

They studied ecology through biology and learned how harmony keeps nature alive.
🎵 Rhyme

They studied ecology through biology and learned how harmony keeps nature alive.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪˈkɑːlədʒi/
🇬🇧 UK/ɪˈkɒlədʒi/

🌳Etymology

Rooteco-
Suffix--logy

Origin

The term was coined in the 19th century by German biologist Ernst Haeckel, who combined Greek roots to create a new scientific term. It derives from Greek oikos (house, dwelling) and logos (study, discourse), literally meaning 'the study of nature as a home' or 'the science of organisms in relation to their environment'.

Breakdown

oikos (house, dwelling, environment) + -logy (study of, discourse). The suffix -logy comes from logos (word, reason, study) and is commonly used in English to denote fields of scientific inquiry.

🎵Rhyme

biologygeologypsychology
biology
geology
psychology

🔗Collocations

marine ecology
forest ecology
study ecology
urban ecology
ecological balance
ecology professor

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My ecology professor made us hug trees to 'understand their feelings' - I think he's taking field research too literally!

The ecology of this wetland supports hundreds of bird species.

Climate change is drastically altering global ecology patterns.

😄 Fun example

She decided to major in ecology after watching too many nature documentaries during lockdown.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

environmental scienceecosystem studyenvironmental biology

Antonyms

destructionpollutionenvironmental damage

Related

ecosystemenvironmentbiodiversityconservationhabitatsustainable

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