Spatial and temporal interrelationships

[jackson6612]

human ecology
1: a branch of sociology dealing especially with the spatial and temporal interrelationships between humans and their economic, social, and political organization
2: the ecology of human communities and populations especially as concerned with preservation of environmental quality (as of air or water) through proper application of conservation and civil engineering practices
[M-W's Col. Dic.]

1: What are these "spatial and temporal interrelationships"?

2: What is difference between 'human communities' and 'human populations', and what is the purpose of mentioning them both in the definition?

 

[Astronuc]

Spatial would refer to geographic, areal or regional matters, as opposed to temporal or time-based dependencies.

The term communities infers social interaction and functional interrelationships as opposed to simply quantity, or population (numbers).

 

[collinsmark]

And "temporal" refers to time. In this case how interrelationships change as time moves on.