Ecology?

Ecology is the science that studies the interactions between living organisms and their living and non-living environment. Through examaning these interactions, ecology considers the bigger picture of cause and effect, rather than just looking at only one element of a system. When considering landscape design, often only an individual plant's cultural needs are considered. However, a plant, as one element of design, interacts with many other components within the landscape system. It interacts with the air and water that passes through the system, the soil and soil organisms of the system.and with other plants and animals that live within the system. Through these interactions, all of these components are changed; none of them remain static. A change to one element will affect the other elements. They are directly linked. It is this interdependence and its resultant effects that are the focus of a designer of Ecological Landscapes.

(photo credit: Austrian School Network. http://schulen.asn-noe.ac.at/hsasparn/bee-flower.jpg)