Ecology: Concepts and Applications

The branch of biology, which involves the study of organisms and their interactions with their environment, is called ecology. It focuses on the interactions between organisms and with the abiotic factors of the environment. Some of the significant topics studied under this field include competition and cooperation between species, biodiversity, population of organisms, biomass and distribution of organisms. Ecology has applications in diverse fields like forestry, conservation biology, community health, wetland management, human social interaction, etc. The understanding of the principles of ecology is fundamental to the development of behavioral ecology, social ecology, cognitive ecology, biogeography, molecular ecology and social ecology. From theories to research to practical applications, case studies related to all contemporary topics of relevance to this field have been included in this book. Some of the diverse topics covered herein address the varied branches that fall under this category. This book includes contributions of experts and scientists, which will provide innovative insights into the field of ecology.