Desert ecology is an important branch of ecological science that investigates the interactions between organisms and their environment in desert and desertified regions. Based on the conceptual foundations and historical background of the discipline， this paper analyzes the formation and development of academic thought in desert ecology. It highlights the innovative contributions of the discipline in both theoretical frameworks and practical applications， and explores its implications for the future of modern ecology. Rooted in long-term research efforts over more than a century and supported by various research stations and field platforms， desert ecology has evolved through four key stages： early exploration， foundational establishment， in-depth development， and theoretical maturation. It has emerged as a regionally distinctive and interdisciplinary subfield of ecology. The development of desert ecology and the shaping of its academic thought have significantly enriched the ecological discipline and theoretical system， deepened research content through innovation， and contributed to ecological engineering practices and biodiversity conservation. Moreover， it has expanded the structure for training ecological talents. The discipline’s emphasis on systematic thinking， interdisciplinary collaboration， sustainability， and the integration of theory with practice offers valuable insights for advancing ecological theories， restoring fragile ecosystems， supporting national ecological strategies， and promoting global environmental governance and protection.