Paleoecologist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A scientist who studies the ecosystems, climates and living communities of past geological eras, usually through fossils and sediment evidence
2. A researcher specializing in reconstructing how ancient environments and the organisms within them functioned long before recorded history
3. Someone who investigates prehistoric ecological conditions and the relationships between ancient life forms and their surroundings

Etymology: "Paleoecologist" is a plain compound: "paleo-", from Greek "palaios" meaning "old" or "ancient", joined to "ecologist", a person who studies ecology. Put together, the word names a scientist who studies the ecological relationships of organisms and their environments in past geological periods, reconstructing ancient communities from fossils, sediments and other evidence. The "eco-" part traces back to Greek "oikos", meaning "house" or "household", which gave the sense of the study of organisms in their home environment. The prefix "paleo-" is a modern combining form used widely in scientific terms such as "paleontology" and "paleoclimate", so the whole word is a coinage built from classical parts rather than something ancient speakers would have used.