What is the study of interactions among organisms and their environment called?

The study of interactions among organisms and their environment is referred to as ecology. This field of biology examines how living organisms, including humans, interact with each other and with their physical surroundings, which encompasses factors like climate, soil, water, and other species. Ecologists investigate everything from the behavior of individuals to the dynamics of populations and the structure of communities, as well as the overall functioning of ecosystems.

Ecology is critical for understanding the relationships that sustain biodiversity and the health of ecosystems. By studying these interactions, ecologists can learn how environmental changes, such as climate change or habitat destruction, will impact various organisms and their habitats.

In contrast, genetics focuses on heredity and variation in organisms, exploring how traits are passed from one generation to the next. Evolution studies the changes in populations over time due to processes like natural selection and genetic drift. Biochemistry examines the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. Each of these fields contributes to our understanding of biology but does not specifically center on the interactions between organisms and their environment as ecology does.