All of the divisions of the natural sciences dealing with the various aspects of the phenomena of life and vital processes. The concept includes anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and biophysics, and the biology of animals, plants, and microorganisms. It should be differentiated from BIOLOGY, one of its subdivisions, concerned specifically with the origin and life processes of living organisms.
The branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment, especially as manifested by natural cycles and rhythms, community development and structure, interactions between different kinds of organisms, geographic distributions, and population alterations.
Biology, ecology, and life sciences are interdisciplinary. See especially: Medicine and Health, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Statistics and Probability, History and Philosophy of Science, Leisure Reading—Science and Technology.
Related topics include: Your Scholarly Identity (ORCID), Research Data Services, Scholarly Communication, Open Access Publishing at Notre Dame.
One readable scientific journal about biology, ecology, and the life sciences is Nature.
For information and background about the earth's 1.9 million species, including their proper scientific names, search the Encyclopedia of Life.
Careers in biology, ecology, and the life sciences are discussed in depth in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. See these groups: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations; Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations; Healthcare Occupations; and Community and Social Service Occupations.
