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Ecology
(1,011 words)

1. Term

The term “ecology” refers to the earth and its communities of life, particularly as they interact in complex and dynamic ways. The science of ecology studies the interrelationships of organisms and their environments. Derived from the Greek terms oikos and logos, ecology is the study of the (worldwide) household; as such, it is related etymologically to economics (the law of the household).

2. Modern Issues

The zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) introduced the term “ecology” in 1866. He used it to des…

Cite this page
Bouma-Prediger, Steven, “Ecology”, in: Encyclopedia of Christianity Online. Consulted online on 28 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2211-2685_eco_E28>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004169678, 20080512



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