ENVS200 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: The Ecologist, Soil Science, Natural Selection
Document Summary
Ecology is the branch of science dedicated to the study of relationships between organisms and the environment. Humans have been students of ecology as long as we have existed. The earliest hunters and gatherers had to be familiar with the habits of their prey, where to find food plants, and when fruits would ripen. Farmers and ranchers are aware of how variations in weather and soils affect their crops and livestock, how yields change depending upon what species grow together, as well as how pests and pathogens impact their crops and livelihood. All of this is ecology, and the need of people to understand how the natural world works continues to this day. A modern fisher, hunter, rancher, or farmer who does not understand the patterns of nature will not be successful. A society that ignores ecological changes is at risk of losing the life-sustaining services ecosystems provide.
