Environment

The biophysical environment is the biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development and evolution. The biophysical environment can vary in scale from microscopic environment and the terrestrial environment. The number of biophysical environments is countless, given that each living organism has its own environment.

The term environment is often used as a short form for the biophysical environment, e.g. the UK's Environment Agency. The expression "the environment often refers to a singular global environment in relation to humanity."

Ecology

Ecology is the scientific analysis and study of interactions among organisms and their environment. It is an interdisciplinary field that includes biology, geography and Earth science. Ecology includes the study of interactions organisms have with each other, other organism, and with abiotic components of their environment. Topics of interest to ecologists include the diversity, distribution, amount (biomass), and number (population) of particular organism, as well as co-operation and competitive between organisms, both within and among ecosystems.Ecosystems are composed of dynamically interacting parts including organisms, the communities, nutrient cycling, and various niche construction activities, regulate the  flux of energy and matter through an environment. These processes are sustained by organisms with specific life history traits, and the variety of organisms is called biodiversity. Biodiversity, which refers to the varieties of species, genes and ecosystems, enhances certain ecosystem services.

Ecology is not synonymous with environment, environmentalism, natural history or environmental science. It is closely related to evolutionary biology, genetics and ethology. An important focus for ecologists to improve the understanding of how biodiversity affects ecological function. Ecologists seek to explain:

• Life processes, interactions and adaptations
• The movement of materials and energy through living communities
• The successional development of ecosystems
• The abundance and distribution of organisms and biodiversity in the context of the environment

 Ecology is a human science as well. There are many practical applications of ecology in conservation biology, wetland management, natural resource management (agroecology, agriculture, forestry, agroforestry, fisheries), city planning  (urbari ecology), community health, economics, basic and applied science, and human social interaction (human ecology). 

The word 'Ecology' was coined in 1866 by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel.