Which anthropologist is associated with cultural ecology?

The anthropologist associated with cultural ecology is Julian Steward. Cultural ecology is a theoretical approach that examines the interactions between human cultures and their environments, emphasizing how cultural practices adapt to ecological conditions. Steward's work highlighted the relationship between cultural systems and the environment, proposing that human societies develop specific sociocultural characteristics in response to environmental factors.

Steward also introduced the concept of "cultural core," which refers to the combination of technology, subsistence practices, and social organization that a society relies on to survive within its specific environmental context. This was significant in illustrating how culture is not static but continuously evolving based on ecological circumstances.

This methodology paved the way for subsequent anthropological investigations into the ways in which different cultures adapt their lifestyles, practices, and social structures to their environments, demonstrating the dynamic interplay between humans and their surroundings.