Hierarchy of Ecology

(1) Global ecology

Global ecology examines the influence of energy and materials on organisms across the biosphere (the whole globe).

(2) Landscape ecology 

Also called: seascape ecology, focuses on a mosaic of connected ecosystems. It focuses on the exchanges of energy, materials, and organisms across multiple ecosystems (aerial view of a river, sand, brush).

(3) Ecosystem ecology

An ecosystem is the community of organisms in an area and the physical factors with which they interact (a lot of species living together in communities within). Ecosystem ecology focuses on energy flow and chemical cycling among the various biotic and abiotic components. 

(4) Community ecology

A community is a group of populations of different species in an area. Community ecology focuses on the whole array of interacting speciecommunity ecology-think lots of species living in a community (exampe: forest).

(5) Population ecology

A group of individuals in the same species living in an area. Population ecology focuses on factors affecting population size over time.

(6) Organismal ecology

Organismal ecology focuses on how an organism's structure, physiology, and behavior (for animals) meet environmental challenges. Organismal ecology includes physiological, evolutionary, and behavioral ecology.