Environment

The environment or biophysical environment of an organism is comprised of all the factors and phenomena outside the body affecting him, and which can be physical, chemical or other living organisms. The environment is very complex, consisting of all influences external to an organisms. Most organisms live in environments that vary predictably (seasonal cycles), and therefore must adjust to maximize survival over this wide range of environmental conditions. The coat of the Arctic fox, for example, varies according to the season, white in winter and brownish in summer.

Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of relations of the organism to the surrounding environment. The study of the effects of environmental factors on processes in organisms is called physiological ecology and, sometimes, environmental physiology.