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- Ecoimmunology or Ecological Immunology is the study of the causes and consequences of variation in immunity. The field of ecoimmunology seeks to give an ultimate perspective for proximate mechanisms of immunology. This approach places immunology in evolutionary and ecological contexts across all levels of biological organization. Classical, or mainstream, immunology works hard to control variation (inbred/domestic model organisms, parasite-free environments, etc.) and asks questions about mechanisms and functionality of the immune system using a reductionist method. While ecoimmunology originated from these fields, it is distinguished by its focus to explain natural variation in immune functions. Multiple institutes engage in ecoimmunological research, such as the Center for Immunity, Infection and Evolution at the University of Edinburgh and the Max Planck Institute for Immunoecology and Migration. The US National Science Foundation has funded a Research Coordination Network to bring methodological and conceptual unity to the field of ecoimmunology. The causes and consequences of immune variation have larger implications for public health, conservation, wildlife management, and agriculture. (en)
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