Ecology

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• Ecology is the study of how organisms interact [and converse] with one another and with their physical environment.
• The distribution and abundance of organisms on Earth is shaped by both biotic, living-organism-related, and abiotic, nonliving or physical, factors.
• Ecology is studied at many levels, including organism, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere."

“... the science of ecology studies all the interactions among livings beings and their environment, whether we humans are involved or not… Ecology is the study of patterns, networks, balances, and cycles rather than the straightforward causes and effects studied in physics and chemistry. The goal of ecology is to understand the functioning of whole living systems, not simply to break them down into component parts for analysis.”

"The scientific study of the processes influencing the distribution and abundance of organisms, the interactions among organisms, and the interactions between organisms and the transformation and flux of energy and matter."

"There are 3 perspectives determining the human-nature relationship. Shallow Ecology, Deep Ecology and Reverential Ecology.

Shallow Ecology considers nature conservation vital for its useful to humans. It’s an anthropocentric, or a human-centred world view. Humans take care of the environment; of the animals, the oceans, the rivers and the forests, so that they can benefit from nature for a long time to come. Shallow ecologists desire a sustainable future for humanity and nature for them is a “resource” for the economy. For the advocates of Deep Ecology, nature has intrinsic value. Nature is not a resource for the economy but is the source of life itself.

Reverential Ecology adds an extra dimension of profound feelings of reverence towards all life. Reverential Ecology operates upon the principle that all natural things are holy-possessing the divine, not as a transcendent presence but rather as an immanent one. In place of controlling, owning or possessing, mankind participates in the process of the intricately woven web of life, acting no longer as masters or stewards of the earth; rather as participants and co-creators of the earth."