Human ecology
There are several types of ecology available for study. When most people think of ecology, they tend to think of animals and their balance with nature. However, there is also human ecology, which is often considered a branch of sociology or psychology. When one thinks of the many varying ecology types, they should also consider the many environmental types. Humans have many different types of environments. For instance, there are social and natural environments of varying degrees. Like the study of ecology in nature, human ecology deals with the effect of humans on their environment and vice verse. Humans can effect their social environment in much the same way that they effect their natural environment. It should also be noted that humans social interactions also directly effect their environment. Humans that gather together in a social environment can effectively work together to change their natural environment.
When studying the different types of ecology, many of the questions remain the same. Different ecology types have similar problems to face and similar solutions that can be utilized to restore ecological balance. For example, one type of ecology is marine ecology. An ecologist wishing to study the effect of pollution on marine life, could just as easily study the effect of pollution on humans. It is becoming increasingly clear that each aspect of our fragile ecosystem effects all of the other aspects.
When one thinks of ecology types, they must also consider the types of environment. For example, human ecology may study the effects of humans on their social, work or natural environment. Social environment can consist or responses to friends, family, work, school, nature, even the environment at the mall. Humans responses to their environment can depend on factors such as geography, education, financial class and family size.
When approaching the different types of ecology, an ecologist must all take different environments, responses and effects into account. No matter what organism a person is studying, they must search for similar cause and effect relationships. Humans seem to have the most effect on all types of ecology. Humans can effect biology, plants, animals, other people and overall environment for most organisms. While humans have the ability to inflict great harm to the fragile balance of nature, we also have the ability to encourage change. The types of ecology we can effect, directly effect us in turn. By learning from organisms around us, and studying different ecology types, we can directly effect our own ecology. Humans, more than any organism, have the power to restore balance.
The many types of ecology available for study offer a wide variety of subjects within each type. Marine ecologist can study animals, plants, organism and their balance with their environment. Human ecologists are also offered a wide variety of environments in which to study their subjects. The variety of ecology types can each offer a variety of solutions in our struggle to regain balance in our environment. The direct cause and effect relationship between organisms and their environment should be clear, and we as humans, should work to be the cause for change.
