An ecologist is a scientist who studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment. They may focus on specific aspects such as population dynamics, species interactions or ecosystem processes. Ecology is an interdisciplinary field that combines elements of biology, geography, chemistry, physics, and other sciences to understand how living things interact with each other and their surroundings. An ecologist may work in a variety of settings such as forests, wetlands, rivers or urban areas, conducting research, monitoring populations, managing habitats, or developing conservation strategies.