Ecology

The study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.

science of ecology
ecological principles
principles of environmental planning and design
field of environmental planning and design
considerations in environmental planning and design
field of principles of ecology
principles of ecology

knowledge

cross-sector

Ecology is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Environmental education officer: Environmental education officers are responsible for promoting environmental conservation and development. They visit schools and businesses to give talks, they produce educational resources and websites, they lead guided nature walks, they provide relevant training courses, and they help with volunteer activities and conservation projects. Many gardens employ an environmental education officer to offer guidance during school visits.
Crop production manager: Crop production managers plan the production, manage the enterprise and participate in the production process of crop production facilities.  
Landscape architect: Landscape architects plan and design the construction of gardens and natural spaces. They determine the specifications and distribution of the space. They combine an understanding of the natural space with a sense of aesthetics in order to create a harmonious space.
Botanist: Botanists are occupied with the maintenance of an range of plants from around the world, often in a botanic garden. They conduct scientific studies and travel in order to study plants growing in the wild. Botanists are responsible for the maintenance and development of the botanic garden.
Aquaculture biologist: Aquaculture biologists apply knowledge gained from research about aquatic animals and plant life and their interactions with each other and the environment, in order to improve aquaculture production, prevent animal health and environmental problems and to provide solutions if necessary.

Soil scientist: Soil scientists research and study the scientific discipline concerning soil. They advise on how to improve soil quality to support nature, food production or human infrastructure using surveying techniques, irrigation techniques and erosion reduction measures. They make sure to conserve and restore land suffering from intense farming or human interaction.
Nature conservation officer: Nature conservation officers manage and improve the local environment within all the sectors of a local community. They promote awareness of and understanding about the natural environment. This work can be very varied and involve projects related to species, habitats and communities. They educate people and raise overall awareness of environmental issues.
Aquatic animal health professional: Aquatic animal health professionals diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of aquatic animals by implementing appropriate sampling protocols. They supervise the use of medicines, including vaccines, and collect data on fish health, making regular reports to the appropriate personnel. They may provide care to a wide range of aquatic animals or specialise  in the treatment of a particular group or in a particular speciality area. They may provide advice, support and training to farm staff on best practice with regard to the health and welfare of the cultured organisms.
Soil surveying technician: Soil surveying technicians analyse soil by carrying out technical surveying tasks, using soil surveying techniques. They focus on the process of classifying soil types and other soil properties. Soil surveying technicians operate surveying equipment and utilise programs to retrieve and interpret relevant data, and perform computations as required.
Ecologist: Ecologists carry out assessments of the health and distribution of organisms, namely people, plants, and animals, and the relationship between organisms and their environment. Ecologists usually have a specialisation area, e.g. freshwater, marine, terrestrial, fauna, and flora about which they conduct research and perform relating tasks. 
Landscape designer: Landscape designers design and create outdoor public areas, landmarks, structures, parks, gardens and private gardens to achieve environmental, social-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes.
Groundsman/groundswoman: Groundsmen/groundswomen provide landscape and lawn services and maintain grounds for private households, commercial and public facilities, schools, hotels, botanical gardens, golf courses, parks and athletic fields.

Aquaculture environmental analyst: Aquaculture environmental analysts assess, plan and implement programmes to recognise, monitor and control environmental factors that can potentially affect the health of aquatic animals and plants.
Curator of horticulture: Curators of horticulture develop and maintain the botanical collections, exhibits and landscapes of a botanical garden.
Conservation scientist: Conservation scientists manage the quality of specific forests, parks and other natural resources. They protect the wildlife habitat, biodiversity, scenic value, and other unique attributes of preserves and conservation lands. Conservation scientists perform field work.
Landscape gardener: Landscape gardeners plan, construct, renovate and maintain parks, gardens and public green spaces.
Agronomic crop production team leader: Agronomic crop production team leaders are responsible for leading and working with a team of crop production workers. They organise the the daily work schedules for crop production and participate in the production

Ecology is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Botanical technician: Botanical technicians provide technical assistance in researching and testing different plant species to monitor their properties such as growth and structure. They collect and analyse data using laboratory equipment, compile reports and maintain laboratory stock. Botanical technicians also study plants to research their use in areas such as medicine, food and materials.
Earth science lecturer: Earth science lecturers are subject professors, teachers, or lecturers who instruct students who have obtained an upper secondary education diploma in their own specialised field of study, earth science, which is predominantly academic in nature. They work with their university research assistants and university teaching assistants in preparation of lectures and of exams, grading papers and exams and leading review and feedback sessions for the students. They also conduct academic research in their field of earth science, publish their findings and liaise with other university colleagues.
Biology technician: Biology technicians provide technical assistance in researching and analysing the relationship between living organisms and their environment. They use laboratory equipment to examine organic substances such as bodily fluids, medicines, plants and food. They collect and analyse data for experiments, compile reports and maintain laboratory stock.
Environmental programme coordinator: Environmental programme coordinators develop programmes for the improvement of environmental sustainability and efficiency within a organisation or institution. They inspect sites in order to monitor an organisation’s or institution’s compliance with environmental legislation. They also ensure education for the public on environmental concerns.
Fruit production team leader: Fruit production team leaders are responsible for leading and working with a team. They organise daily work schedules for the production of fruit crops and participate in the production processes.
Secondary school teacher: Secondary school teachers provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually specialist subject teachers, who instruct in their own field of study. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary and evaluate their knowledge and performance through assignments, tests and examinations.
Geneticist: Geneticists study and focus their research on genetics. They analyse the fashion in which genes interact, operate, and inherit traits and characteristics. Based on their research, they attend patients with inherited diseases and conditions, congenital malformations, and genetic matters at large.
Zoo educator: Zoo educators teach visitors about the animals living at the zoo/aquarium as well as other species and habitats. They provide information about management of zoos, its collection of animals, and wildlife conservation. Zoo educators can be involved in both formal and informal learning opportunities ranging from production of information signs at enclosures to delivering classroom sessions linked to school or university curricula. Depending on the size of the organisation the education team may be a single person or a large team. Consequently the optional skills reqired are very broad and will vary from organisation to organisation. 

Zoo educators also promote conservation efforts. This can involve work within the zoo but also in the field as part of any zoo outreach project(s).
Geography teacher secondary school: Geography teachers at secondary schools provide education to students, commonly children and young adults, in a secondary school setting. They are usually subject teachers, specialised and instructing in their own field of study, geography. They prepare lesson plans and materials, monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate the students’ knowledge and performance on the subject of geography through assignments, tests and examinations.
Horticulture production team leader: Horticulture production team leaders are responsible for leading and working with a team. They organise daily work schedules for the production of horticulture crops and participate in the production.

Garden labourer: Garden labourers perform simple tasks in cultivating and maintaining flowers, trees and shrubs. This work can take place in either parks or private gardens.
Geographer: Geographers are scholars who study human and physical geography. Depending on their specialisation, they study political, economical and cultural aspects of humanity contained within human geography. Moreover, they study land formations, soils, natural frontiers, and water flows contained in physical geography.
Agronomist: Agronomists provide consulting services to companies, agricultural cooperatives, agronomical crop growers and horticultural crop growers on the cultivation of food crops. They study the science, technology and business related to growing plants. They examine crops and perform experiments in order to improve crop yields and farms’ production. Agronomists also examine the most effective ways to harvest and cultivate plants.
Crop production worker: Crop production workers carry out practical activities and assist in the production of agronomical crops. 

Horticulture production manager: Horticultural production managers plan the production, manage the enterprise and participate in the production
Livestock advisor: Livestock advisors provide complex specialist advice to farmers and livestock breeders to ensure that their business and production is optimised.
Biologist: Biologists study living organisms and life in its broader extent in combination with its environment. Through research, they strive to explain the functional mechanisms, interactions, and evolution of organisms.
Interior architect: Interior architects create plans of the interior of a home, building or other structure. They determine the specifications and distribution of the space. Interior architects combine an understanding of space with a sense for aesthetics in order to create a harmonious interior design. They draw architectural drawings using computer-aided equipment and software, or using conventional methods like paper and pen.
Natural resources consultant: Natural resources consultant provide advice on the protection and management of natural resources, namely fauna, flora, soil and water to companies and governments which exploit these resources. They strive to guide companies on an appropriate policy for exploiting natural resources in industrial contexts, raise awareness on health issues, and ensure the conservation of ecosystems for sustainable interventions in natural habitats.

References

1. Ecology – ESCO