Autecology and Synecology
Autecology and Synecology
Autecology and Synecology
There are two fairly well-defined approaches to ecological study. The first approach deals with
individual and the second one deals with the community. This means that our study of ecology
Autecology- This is the study of a single plant or animal throughout its life history in relation to
its living conditions or environment, that is, living and non-living factors. Autecology is also called
species ecology. In other words autecology expresses the limit of tolerance and preference of
(a) It does not provide fully for knowing the species niche
(b) It does not provide or suggest answer to the question of what limits the size of population in an
(c) It does not give information about the quantitative effect of a species from the rest or others
Importance of Autecology
(a) It helps to explain local and geographical distribution, abundance and activities of any species
Synecology - Also being referred to as the study of ecology at the level of community. The word
synecology therefore means community ecology. It is the study of groups of organisms in relation
to their environment. Synecology is a branch of ecology which deals with the structure,
Interactions among two or more species or a population with their environment are in consideration
at this level. Synecology therefore analyses the relationship between individual organisms in
(a) Static approach - involves the description of community of living organisms found together
in a habitat. It provides information on the specific composition, abundance and frequencies of the
component species.
(b) Dynamic approach also known as functional synecology deals with two aspects;
(i) evolution or development of association and the examination of the factors that determine the
(ii) the transfer of materials like energy between the various parts of an ecosystem such as food-