Human ecology and its applications

The term human ecology was first used in 1921 by sociologists at the Chicago School of Sociology. During the 20th century definitions and interpretations of human ecology have varied considerably, not only between the natural and human sciences, but also among academic disciplines in the social sciences including anthropology, geography, psychology and sociology. This paper presents some key concepts and principles that stem from a wide range of contributions. Then it shows how ecological concepts could be used to interpret human settlements.