The animal's biology is defined by this environment - its form, physiology and behaviour are shaped by the complexity of the natural world. As such, biodiversity studies can be said to be part of the discipline of evolutionary biology. As a subdiscipline of evolutionary biology, this study falls within evolutionary ecology. The focus of this electronic text is on a coevolutionary mechanism. Smuts describes this principle as Holism.
Holism is sourced in the very nature of the elements.
Much of what Darwin said has holistic flair. There are repeated examples of this. A consequence of this interaction is the evolution of decreased interactions. The truth of the principle, that the greatest amount of life can be supported by great diversification of structure, is seen under many circumstances. As the facts of the world-view of Holism unfold we should see immense changes in our dealings with and understanding of nature.