For general science questions, creating a list of important scientific terms and the scientists who coined them can be very helpful. For example: Ecology - Haeckel, Genetics - Bateson, Vitamin - Funk.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the originator of the scientific term 'ecology'. Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The word 'ecology' (originally German: Ökologie) was coined in 1866 by the German scientist Ernst Haeckel.
He derived it from the Greek words oikos (meaning "house" or "dwelling") and logos (meaning "study"). He defined it as the study of the relationship of organisms with their environment. Other Options:
- Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution by natural selection.
- Gregor Mendel is known as the father of modern genetics. Step 3: Final Answer:
The word 'ecology' was coined by Ernst Haeckel.