The correct answer is C. Reciprocal relationship between living and non living components.
Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment. It is a broad field that encompasses the study of individual organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the biosphere.
Living organisms interact with their environment in a variety of ways. They obtain food, water, and shelter from the environment, and they release waste products into the environment. The environment also affects living organisms by providing them with a place to live, by regulating their temperature, and by providing them with the resources they need to survive.
The relationship between living organisms and their environment is a complex one. Living organisms are constantly changing the environment, and the environment is constantly changing the living organisms. This reciprocal relationship is what makes ecology such a fascinating and important field of study.
Option A is incorrect because ecology does not only deal with living beings. It also deals with the non-living components of the environment, such as air, water, soil, and sunlight.
Option B is incorrect because ecology is not just the study of living and non-living components. It is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Option D is incorrect because ecology is not just the study of the environment. It is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.