There is still much to be learned about biodiversity and its relationship to the functioning of our world, so scientific research and debate continues. And results are being applied to efforts to conserve biodiversity now. Ecologists conduct research to better understand biodiversity, quantify its loss, and develop strategies for conserving and using it. Much is still unknown as to what species exist, where they occur, and the relationships between them. By inventorying and monitoring biodiversity, ecologists study species abundance, functions, interactions, and importance to maintaining or enhancing the quality of human life.
Ecologists study the natural changes in biodiversity at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels.
This allows them to evaluate human impact by comparing natural processes to human-induced changes. Recent work suggests that the loss of populations are of greater consequence than the loss of species and are occurring at a faster rate. Ecologists also play a prominent role in researching the conservation, restoration, and use of biodiversity and related ecosystem processes. Some ecologists investigate the effects of different land uses and management practices. Restoration ecologists are developing rationale and methodologies for rehabilitating or restoring damaged habitats and for reintroducing native species.