Animal ecologists study how animals interact with other organisms and their environment, aiming to understand how these interactions influence evolutionary change as well as the distribution and abundance of species.
Researchers conduct broad and dynamic ecological studies spanning evolutionary ecology, behavioural ecology, and conservation biology. They investigate a wide range of animals, including insects, fish, birds, and mammals. Research examines how animals adapt to environmental variation and climate, as well as how sexual selection and reproductive ecology influence patterns of biodiversity and evolutionary change.
Researchers also investigate interactions between animals and other organisms, such as plants and parasites, to explore the evolution of ecological specialization and parasite dynamics. In addition, studies of wildlife ecology address population viability, landscape connectivity, and effective wildlife management. Collectively, these research areas advance understanding of how animals adapt, interact, and persist in changing ecosystems contributing valuable general ecological knowledge that is vital for biodiversity conservation and management.