Ecological Endocrinology

Ecological endocrinology is a field within comparative endocrinology that examines how hormones influence the relationships between animals and their environments. It studies how hormonal changes affect behaviors, reproductive success, and survival in different ecological contexts. For instance, it looks at how stress hormones help animals respond to changes in their habitat or how reproductive hormones vary with seasons. By comparing these hormonal systems across species, researchers can understand the adaptive strategies animals use to thrive in their specific ecological niches. This insight helps us grasp the complex interplay between biology and the environment in the animal kingdom.