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Dieren en planten

Water en land

Ecology

Ecology is the science which deals with the relationships found in nature. Plants and animals live together in communities which form ecosystems. Ecologists look at the relationship between the various species of plants and animals in an ecosystem, as well as the relation between entire populations.

  • Key words

    A few key words are symbiosis (a friendly manner of cohabitation), parasitism (whereby the parasite has the advantage in relationship to the host) and predation (the relationship of eaten and being eaten). Ecologists used to think in terms of ecological balance, but newer insights have shown that ecosystems are much more dynamic. A separate branch of ecology deals with similarities and differences of life on islands, the island biology.