Final answer:
The ecologist is studying the community ecology level of a salt marsh by focusing on how egrets, herons, crabs, and marsh grass interact with one another.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ecologist is studying components of a salt marsh ecosystem at the level of community ecology. This level involves the study of interactions among various populations like egrets, herons, marsh crabs, and marsh grass, which are all living or biotic factors within the ecosystem. In community ecology, the focus is on how these different species interact with each other and the structure of the community formed.