Final answer:
Studying animal ecology is important because it ensures the survival of populations, incorporates knowledge from multiple scientific disciplines to understand animal life, and clarifies species interactions and distributions. It includes organismal ecology, population ecology, and community ecology to address ecological and environmental challenges.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important to study the ecology of animals for several reasons. The correct answer to why it is important to study animal ecology is d) All of the above, which encompasses:
- It ensures the continued survival of populations in altered environments. This involves understanding how changes in habitats due to human activities or natural events affect animal populations and how these populations can be supported.
- It incorporates everything we know about animal behavior, physiology, genetics, and evolution. By studying these aspects, ecologists can gather comprehensive insights into the lives of animals and their interactions with the environment.
- It helps understand interactions determining geographical distributions and abundance. Animal ecology examines factors that influence where species are found and how many individuals of a species exist in a given area.
Through the study of organismal ecology, population ecology, and community ecology, researchers can investigate adaptations, interactions, and population dynamics to preserve biodiversity, manage natural resources, and address issues related to human health and urban planning.