2018
Overview
Animal ecology is the branch of ecology that studies the relationships between animals and their environment, including both the living and non-living components of the world around them. It examines the distribution and abundance of animal populations, the factors that regulate them, and the ways animals interact with one another and with other organisms through processes such as competition, predation, parasitism, and cooperation. Animal ecology also encompasses animal behavior, physiological and morphological adaptations, life-history strategies, and the roles animals play within food webs and ecosystems. By understanding how animals respond to environmental conditions, resource availability, and disturbance, animal ecology helps explain patterns in nature and informs the conservation and management of wildlife, particularly as habitats change. The field draws on observation, experimentation, and modeling, and it is closely linked to plant ecology, since animals and plants together shape the structure and function of ecosystems. As a topic within plant and animal ecology, animal ecology contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how organisms and their environments are interconnected. This page provides an encyclopedic overview of animal ecology, presenting a general account of the discipline rather than citing studies that do not directly address the ecology of animals.
Research published in this journal
1 peer-reviewed article, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.