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    Autecology and Synecology

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    akintobitoluwanimi
    Introduction to Autecology and Synecology

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    Autecology and Synecology

    Uploaded by

    akintobitoluwanimi
    23 views2 pages
    Introduction to Autecology and Synecology

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    Introduction to Autecology and Synecology

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    23 views2 pages

    Autecology and Synecology

    Uploaded by

    akintobitoluwanimi
    Introduction to Autecology and Synecology

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Module One

    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

    may either be Autecology or Synecology

    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

    species to various environmental factors.

    Autecology has some limitations such as:

    (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

    area at a particular time

    (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

    (b) It is also a basis of more general and economic work/study

    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,

    development and distribution of ecological communities.

    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

    relation to habitat and also between them and the environment.


    There are two approaches to synecology:

    (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

    succession of communities in a particular habitat.

    (ii) the transfer of materials like energy between the various parts of an ecosystem such as food-

    chain, production and ecological pyramids.

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