Ecomorphology or
ecological morphology is the study of the relationship between the
ecological role of an individual and its
morphological adaptations. The term "morphological" here is an
anatomical context although many parallel mechanisms, resulting patterns, methods of analysis, and emergent properties, likely exist. Both the morphology and ecology occupied by an organism are directly or indirectly influenced by their own environment, and ecomorphology is geared to show and identify the differences However, there is modern emphasis on linking the two aspects of variation by measuring the performance of traits (i.e. sprint speed, bite force, etc.) associated behaviors, and
fitness outcomes of the relationships.