Introduction

Abstract

Ecology is the study of the patterns of abundance and distribution of living organisms in relation to their environment. This broad subject area is studied from many points of view by various subdisciplines of ecology. Physiological ecologists attempt to understand the physiological adaptations of individual organisms to their environment and behavioural ecologists study the corresponding behavioural adaptations including social behaviours. Population ecologists are concerned with the causes of change in population numbers. Community ecologists look for patterns in the complex webs of interacting species. Ecosystem ecologists focus on the flows of energy and matter through ecosystems and the biological processes that regulate these flows. Evolutionary ecologists seek to understand how natural selection leads to the patterns of adaptations of biological species and the observed relationships among species.