Editing Ecology (section)

=== Molecular ecology ===
{{Main|Molecular ecology}}

The important relationship between ecology and genetic inheritance predates modern techniques for molecular analysis. Molecular ecological research became more feasible with the development of rapid and accessible genetic technologies, such as the [[Polymerase chain reaction|polymerase chain reaction (PCR)]]. The rise of molecular technologies and the influx of research questions into this new ecological field resulted in the publication ''[[Molecular Ecology]]'' in 1992.<ref name="MolEcol">{{Cite journal| title = Molecular Ecology| editor-last=Rieseberg| editor-first= L.| publisher = Wiley| doi = 10.1111/(ISSN)1365-294X| journal = Molecular Ecology}}</ref> [[Molecular ecology]] uses various analytical techniques to study genes in an evolutionary and ecological context. In 1994, [[John Avise]] also played a leading role in this area of science with the publication of his book, ''Molecular Markers, Natural History and Evolution''.<ref name="Avise94"/> 

Newer technologies opened a wave of genetic analysis into organisms once difficult to study from an ecological or evolutionary standpoint, such as bacteria, fungi, and [[nematode]]s. Molecular ecology engendered a new research paradigm for investigating ecological questions considered otherwise intractable. Molecular investigations revealed previously obscured details in the tiny intricacies of nature and improved resolution into probing questions about behavioural and biogeographical ecology.<ref name="Avise94"/> For example, molecular ecology revealed [[Promiscuity#Other animals|promiscuous]] sexual behaviour and multiple male partners in [[tree swallow]]s previously thought to be socially [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]].<ref name="Obryan07"/> In a biogeographical context, the marriage between genetics, ecology, and evolution resulted in a new sub-discipline called [[phylogeography]].<ref name="Avise00"/>