Ecology is afacinating science. It is the most valuable discipline for learning what causes the distribution of plants and animals on Earth. Knowledge of ecology is vital in taking conservation measures and in attempting to restore the planet after the ravages of pollution. Ecologyprovides the conceptual framework upon which environmental science is built. Indeed, ecology is to environmental science as physics is to engineering. That is, an engineer cannot build a bridge without knowing the physical principles underlying its construction, and similarly, environmental scientist can not understand the environment without a sound knowledge of ecological principles.