Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

paleoecology

American  
[pey-lee-oh-i-kol-uh-jee, pal-ee-o-] / ˌpeɪ li oʊ ɪˈkɒl ə dʒi, ˌpæl i ɒ- /

noun

  1. the branch of ecology dealing with the relations and interactions between ancient life forms and their environment.


paleoecology Scientific  
/ pā′lē-ō-ĭ-kŏlə-jē /
  1. The branch of ecology that deals with the interaction between ancient organisms and their environment.


Other Word Forms

  • paleoecological adjective
  • paleoecologist noun

Etymology

Origin of paleoecology

First recorded in 1895–1900; paleo- + ecology

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Fulweber said this insight was possible because of the collaborative environment at Toolik Field Station, where specialists in paleoecology, GIS, and remote sensing work closely together.

From Science Daily • Jan. 14, 2026

The study convincingly demonstrates that people were on the Azores as early as about 700, says Simon Connor, a geographer at the Australian National University who studies the paleoecology of the archipelago.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 3, 2021

Use of this method is well established, and given the resources at his disposal, Dr. Klein Goldewijk wrote in an email, collecting and incorporating “empirical data from archaeology, paleoecology, geography, etc., etc.,” has been impossible.

From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2019

It was international in character, if overwhelmingly male and white, and included experts with specialisms in paleoecology, radiocarbon isotopes and the law of the sea.

From The Guardian • May 30, 2019

Evidence now known to me affords an alternative explanation that is presented here as a preliminary to a more complete study of the fauna and paleoecology of these deposits currently being undertaken.

From Two New Pelycosaurs from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma by Fox, Richard C.