The study of how an organism's body systems work and adapt to survive in its particular natural environment.
From Greek 'eco-' (house, environment) and 'physiology' (study of body function). This scientific discipline developed in the mid-20th century as biologists realized organisms couldn't be fully understood in lab conditions alone.
Desert plants have different ecophysiology than rainforest plants—they've evolved smaller leaves, different root systems, and unique water-storage abilities that are completely tied to where they live.
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