A New Definition of Ecology

Since its inception in the 19th century, the concept of ecology has continuously expanded in scope—from individual organisms to the biosphere—and deepened in focus, shifting from organism-environment interactions to the structures and functions of ecosystems. As an interdisciplinary concept prone to controversy and revision, ecology plays a pivotal role in advancing ecological civilization. However, the absence of a mechanism-based and time-appropriate definition has hindered the integration of cross-hierarchical research and the response to practical demands amid global environmental changes. This paper briefly reviews the origin and evolutionary context of the ecology concept and identifies the limitations of previous definitions. It then elaborates on the essence of ecology, and proposes an updated redefinition: Ecology explores the structures and functions (material cycling and energy flow) of the bio-hierarchy (total ecosystems), which is co-shaped by information-mediated feedback regulation between organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments, self-organization and structuralization, as well as human-nature coupling, and provides theoretical foundation and practical solutions for the harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature. Finally, the paper outlines future research directions centered on establishing a unified, cross-hierarchical ecological theoretical framework to support ecological civilization construction and global eco-environmental governance.