In environmental science, who first coined the term “ecology” to describe the study of the relationships between organisms and their environment?

Introduction / Context:
Ecology is a core branch of biology that focuses on the interactions between living organisms and their physical and biological environment. Understanding who coined the term provides historical context and often appears as a standard factual question in competitive exams. This question asks you to identify the scientist who first used the word ecology in a scientific sense. Recognising the contribution of Ernst Haeckel helps link the development of ecological thinking with the broader growth of evolutionary and environmental biology.

Given Data / Assumptions:
– The term in question is ecology, referring to the study of relationships between organisms and their surroundings.
– Four scientists are listed: Ernst Haeckel, G. Evelyn Hutchinson, Hugo de Vries, and Robert Brown.
– Only one of these scientists is historically credited with coining the word ecology.
– We assume standard textbook level history of science concerning ecological terminology.

Concept / Approach:
The term ecology is derived from the Greek words oikos meaning house or environment and logos meaning study. Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist and strong supporter of Darwin's theory of evolution, introduced the term in the nineteenth century to describe the study of organisms in relation to both the biotic and abiotic components of their environment. G. Evelyn Hutchinson later became a prominent ecologist and contributed significantly to modern theoretical ecology but did not coin the word. Hugo de Vries is known for his work on mutation theory and genetics. Robert Brown is remembered for the discovery of Brownian motion and the nucleus in plant cells. Therefore, Ernst Haeckel is the correct answer to this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that ecology as a term comes from Greek roots meaning study of the environment. Step 2: Connect this term with the German biologist Ernst Haeckel, who formally introduced it in scientific literature. Step 3: Recognise that G. Evelyn Hutchinson is a major twentieth century ecologist but not the originator of the term. Step 4: Remember that Hugo de Vries is associated with mutation theory and plant genetics, not with coining ecology. Step 5: Note that Robert Brown is famous for Brownian motion and the cell nucleus, not for introducing ecological terminology.

Verification / Alternative check:
Biology and environmental science textbooks commonly state that the term ecology was coined by Ernst Haeckel in the nineteenth century. Historical summaries of ecology as a discipline mention Haeckel's definition of ecology as the study of the relationships of organisms to their environment. They also describe later contributions from scientists like Hutchinson, who elaborated on ecological niches and systems. This clear and consistent attribution in multiple sources confirms that Haeckel is the scientist who introduced the term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
G. Evelyn Hutchinson: He is regarded as a father of modern ecology and made major conceptual contributions, but he did not coin the term ecology itself.
Hugo de Vries: Best known for mutation theory and rediscovery of Mendel's laws, he worked mainly in genetics and plant breeding rather than coining ecological terms.
Robert Brown: Famous for describing Brownian motion and identifying the cell nucleus, he had no role in creating the term ecology.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the scientist who coined a term with those who later developed the field. Because Hutchinson is heavily associated with ecology in modern texts, some learners mistakenly choose him instead of Haeckel. Others may not remember the historical context and simply guess among familiar names, especially if they have seen de Vries or Brown in other chapters. To avoid these errors, remember a simple fact: Ernst Haeckel introduced the word ecology, while later ecologists expanded and refined the discipline. Keeping this historical timeline in mind makes such questions straightforward.

Final Answer:
The term “ecology” for the study of relationships between organisms and their environment was coined by Ernst Haeckel.