In Odum's introductory college text on ecology, two major viewpoints that underlie the work are the concepts of levels of organization and the importance of homeostasis (balance) and biological regulation. He also treats humans as part of nature and therefore, affected by and able to have an effect upon the laws of natural systems.

Odum defines ecology as a field of environmental biology derived from the Greek root oikos meaning house. Therefore, it is the study of houses or more broadly, environments. It is one of several fields of biology that are concerned with fundamental common to all life.  "Because ecology is concerned especially with the biology of groups of organisms and with functional processes on the lands, in the oceans, and in fresh waters, it is more in keeping with the modern emphasis to define ecology as the study of the structure and function of nature."  Odum includes mankind as a part of nature, since nature includes the living world.  The basic concepts of ecology are the following:

There are five basic environmental concepts from which ecological principles can be taught.  These five concepts are so basic that a teacher who has no biology background will be able to help students understand them.

The five concepts are:

Life is supported by energy = ENERGY FLOW

All life is interdependent = INTERDEPENDENCE

Life changes and adapts to changing conditions = ADAPTATION

All life has order or cycles = CYCLES

All life has diversity = DIVERSITY

In order to create a sustainable community, we need to make sure that there is free flow within a network, so that the network of relationships is nurtured = SUSTAINABILITY
fresh weight or dry weight