Ecomorphology or Ecological Morphology is studying relationships between morphological and ecological variation. 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. See also Functional Morphology.

The term "Morphology" here is an anatomical (not linguistic) context although many parallel mechanisms, resulting patterns, methods of analysis, and emergent properties, probably exist.

Although there is a rich literature in ecological morphology long before 1990's, a good starting point for reading might be:

Wainwright, P. C. and S. M. Reilly. 1994. (editors) Ecological morphology: integrative organismal biology. Chicago, University of Chicago Press.