Ekologji

Ekologji is the branch of biology that studies the relationships between organisms and their environment. The term derives from the Greek oikos, home, and logos, study, and it entered Albanian through scientific usage to mean ecology.

The discipline examines how living beings interact with each other and with the physical surroundings, shaping the structure and function of ecosystems. It considers levels of organization from individuals and populations to communities, ecosystems, landscapes, and the biosphere. Core concepts include biotic and abiotic factors, energy flow through food webs, and the cycling of nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen. Ecologists also study niches, biodiversity, succession, disturbance, and the ways species adapt to their environments.

Methods include field observations and experiments, as well as laboratory analyses, statistical modeling, GIS, and remote sensing. Ecologists use these tools to understand patterns, test hypotheses, and forecast changes due to natural or human causes.

Applications of ekologji span conservation biology, natural resource management, agriculture, urban planning, and climate change mitigation. The field provides the scientific basis for preserving ecosystem services such as food, clean water, pollination, climate regulation, and cultural or recreational value.

Historically, ekologji emerged in the 19th century with developments in natural history and systems thinking; the German biologist Ernst Haeckel popularized the term oekologie, which later entered Albanian usage as ekologji. Today the discipline remains integral to environmental policy, sustainability, and ecological research worldwide.