Which of the following best describes the field of ecology?

• A. The classification and naming of organisms.
• B. The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
• C. The study of the inheritance of traits from one generation to the next.
• D. The study of the chemical processes within living cells.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the term 'ecology.' Ecology is a branch of biology that focuses on studying how organisms interact with each other and their environment.
2. Step 2: Analyze the options provided in the question. Each option represents a different field of biology, so it is important to differentiate them.
3. Step 3: Option 1, 'The classification and naming of organisms,' refers to taxonomy, which is the study of organizing and naming species, not ecology.
4. Step 4: Option 3, 'The study of the inheritance of traits from one generation to the next,' refers to genetics, which deals with heredity and DNA, not ecology.
5. Step 5: Option 4, 'The study of the chemical processes within living cells,' refers to biochemistry, which focuses on molecular and chemical processes, not ecology. Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2, 'The study of interactions between organisms and their environment,' which accurately describes ecology.