Correct option is A
The correct answer is option (a) Ecology.
Explanation
Ecology is the branch of biology that focuses on the study of the interrelationships between living organisms (biotic components) and their environment (abiotic components) such as air, water, and soil. It examines how organisms interact with each other and with their physical surroundings, and how these interactions shape the ecosystem.
Information Booster
Ecology studies ecosystems, biodiversity, population dynamics, and the impact of environmental factors on living organisms.
Abiotic components refer to non-living parts of the environment like water, air, soil, and temperature.
Biotic components include all living organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
Environmental Science is broader and incorporates various disciplines, including ecology, but ecology specifically deals with the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Additional Knowledge
(a) Ecology: This is the correct answer. Ecology studies the interactions between living organisms (biotic) and their environment (abiotic), forming the foundation of environmental studies.
(b) Environmental Science: This field is interdisciplinary and includes topics such as ecology, environmental policy, and the study of natural resources, but it is broader than ecology.
(c) Geology: Geology is the study of the Earth's physical structure, its history, and the processes that shape it. It does not specifically focus on the interrelationship between biotic and abiotic components.
(d) Geography: Geography is the study of the Earth's landscapes, environments, and the relationships between people and their environments, but it does not focus on the biological interactions like ecology does.
