* Organisms and their interactions: How different species interact with each other (e.g., predator-prey, competition, symbiosis), and how these interactions shape the structure of communities.
* The flow of energy and matter: How energy and nutrients move through ecosystems, from producers to consumers to decomposers.
* Population dynamics: How populations of organisms grow, shrink, and interact with their surroundings.
* Ecosystem dynamics: How ecosystems function as a whole, including their response to disturbances and climate change.
* Conservation and management: How ecological knowledge can be applied to protect biodiversity and manage ecosystems sustainably.
Essentially, ecology seeks to understand the intricate web of life on Earth and how it functions. It's a complex and multifaceted field that draws on many other disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, and even social sciences.