Which statement about ecology and environmental science is correct?

• A. Ecology and environmental science are the same field, with no distinction between their areas of study.
• B. Ecology focuses on the interactions between organisms and their environment, while environmental science includes human impacts on the environment.
• C. Ecology is primarily concerned with pollution and its effects on human health.
• D. Environmental science is a subset of ecology that only studies non-living components of the environment.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions: Ecology is the branch of biology that studies the interactions among organisms and their environment. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field that includes the study of the environment and the solution of environmental problems, often incorporating aspects of ecology, biology, chemistry, geology, and social sciences.
2. Identify the key differences: Ecology focuses specifically on the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical surroundings. Environmental science, on the other hand, is broader and includes the study of human impacts on the environment, such as pollution, conservation, and resource management.
3. Evaluate the statements: The first statement claims that ecology and environmental science are the same, which is incorrect because they have distinct focuses. The second statement correctly identifies the focus of ecology and the broader scope of environmental science.
4. Analyze the third statement: It incorrectly narrows ecology to pollution and human health, which are more aligned with environmental science. Ecology encompasses a wider range of interactions beyond just pollution.
5. Consider the fourth statement: It incorrectly suggests that environmental science is a subset of ecology focused only on non-living components, whereas environmental science actually includes both living and non-living components and their interactions, especially human impacts.