Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. The air that we breathe, water that we drink, food that we eat, and resources that we use all are part of the ecological interactions that connect us with the earth's environment. An understanding of these and other ecological interactions helps us use our resources more sustainably and helps prevent environmental catastrophes. In fact, ecology is an important part of many human activities on which all of us depend.
Many excellent books are available for learning about ecology, ecosystems, and related subjects.
This list includes some of today's most widely used textbooks as well as lighter reading that addresses current issues in ecology. Begon, M., C.R. Townsend, and J.L. Harper. Brown, J.H. and L.A. Real. University of Chicago Press. Bush, M.B. 2000.