e ‧ col ‧ o ‧ gy /ɪˈkɒlədʒi $ ɪˈkɑː-/ BrE AmE noun [singular, uncountable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Greek ; Origin: oikos 'house, living place' ]
the way in which plants, animals, and people are related to each other and to their environment, or the scientific study of this ⇨ environment :
the natural ecology of the Earth
plant ecology
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COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + ecology
▪ fragile (=weak or damaged, and in danger of being destroyed completely)
Exploring for oil will damage the island’s fragile ecology.
▪ plant/animal ecology (=the animals, plants etc that live in a particular place)
a new book about the plant ecology of this fascinating area
▪ marine ecology (=in the sea)
Not much is known about the marine ecology of the Red Sea.
▪ rainforest ecology (=in a tropical rain forest)
a new study of rainforest ecology
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THESAURUS
▪ the environment the air, water, and land on Earth, which is affected by man’s activities:
We need to do more to protect the environment.
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How much does air travel damage the environment?
▪ ecosystem technical all the animals and plants that exist in a place, considered as a single system with parts that depend on each other:
the island’s fragile ecosystem
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The rapid decline in the number of great sharks is disrupting the marine ecosystem.
▪ habitat the natural home of an animal or plant:
The tree can grow to be 120 feet tall in its natural habitat.
▪ the biosphere technical the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where animals and plants can live:
Scientists are monitoring changes in the global biosphere.
▪ ecology the scientific study of the way in which the animals, plants, and natural features of a place affect and depend on each other:
She’s studying marine ecology.
▪ green adjective [only before noun] relating to the environment or to protecting the environment:
Voters are becoming more concerned about green issues.
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The party is keen to demonstrate its green credentials (=show that it thinks the environment is important) .
▪ eco- prefix relating to the environment and protecting the environment:
eco-friendly products (=which do not harm the environment)
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eco-tourism (=which does not harm the environment)
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eco-warrior (=someone who protests to try to save the environment)
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eco-sensitive land (=where the environment is easily damaged)