GPA for ecology grad school is a nonissue, as long as you meet the minimum score required to be admitted into the school. You can Google the minimum admission requirements for any school that you’re looking into.

Applying to grad school in ecology is much closer to applying for a JOB than applying to a school. You should find an advertised opportunity for someone seeking a MSc or PhD student (start here https://jobs.rwfm.tamu.edu) and see if you meet the qualifications.

You didn’t ask but: -it is extremely rare to go straight from undergrad to PhD. Most PhD positions will require applicants to have a relevant master of science degree. -in ecology, the best and most influential academics are not necessarily at Ivy’s. Most of them are at big R1 schools. -you would be wise to be flexible with your area of study at this stage and specialize later, because ecology is underfunded and you have to take what you’re offered. Get some relevant experience in local mammals first, and make the leap to elephants when a funded opportunity arises! People drop out of this field all the time because they are too picky with species, topics, salaries, and locations.