Correct Answer: Option B (2 & 3 only)
"Ecology deals only with the interaction among organisms of the same species." - This statement is FALSE. Ecology studies interactions between organisms of the same species (intraspecific interactions) as well as interactions between different species (interspecific interactions). It covers various relationships like predation, competition, mutualism, etc. that occur between different species. Therefore, it is not limited to organisms of the same species only.
"Ecology studies the relationship between organisms and their physical surroundings." - This statement is TRUE. A fundamental aspect of ecology is examining how organisms interact with their physical environment, including factors like temperature, light, moisture, soil composition, etc. These abiotic factors significantly influence the distribution and behavior of organisms.
"Ecology includes the study of both biotic and abiotic components of the environment." - This statement is TRUE. Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment, including both living (biotic) components like plants, animals, and microorganisms, and non-living (abiotic) components like water, air, soil, and climate.
