<p>^The simplest way to explain it is that what I refer to as “basic ecology” is what you would study in a biology or ecology & evolutionary biology dept. Of course, that knowledge can be applied, but I merely was trying to differentiate it from programs that more clearly are applied in nature, e.g., wildlife management & fisheries, restoration ecology, etc.—the types of programs found in colleges of agriculture/natural resources. It sounds as though your interests cut across both of these emphases. You’ll just have to look at the coursework required for specific programs to see what appeals to you the most. Some schools, e.g., Wisconsin, offer a cross-departmental major in conservation biology that draws on both basic and applied coursework. [Biological</a> Aspects of Conservation](<a href=“http://www.biology.wisc.edu/Academic_Programs/BAC/]Biological”>http://www.biology.wisc.edu/Academic_Programs/BAC/)</p>