'ecologically-adapted' originates from the combination of 'ecology' and 'adapt,' where 'eco-' refers to the environment and 'adapt' means to adjust or modify.

'ecology' and 'adapt' were combined to form the modern term 'ecologically-adapted' to describe organisms that have adjusted to their environments.

Initially, it meant 'adjusted to the environment,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.