Short essay on the two Divisions of Ecology

Ecology may be discussed under two divisions: (1) Autoecology (2) Synecology. Autoecology and Synecology

We see plants and animals all around us. They exhibit wide range of diversity. When a group of individuals are generally alike and can interbreed freely, we call them a species. The branch of ecology that deals with the study of individual species in relation to its environment is called species ecology or autoecology.

However, in a particular area, only one species of plants or animals do not live in isolation. Many kinds of plants exist there and make it their natural abodes. The assemplage of such a variety of plants in particular area is plant community. Similarly, occurence of different types of animals and microbes in that area maybe called as animal’s community and microbial community respectively.

In fact, all these living communities such as plants, animals and microbes exist together and from the biotic community. The study of such communities is called community ecology or synecologes.

Autoecological studies on certain characteristic or dominant species greatly help to understand the complexities of biological communities. On the other hand synecology helps us to understand the ecology of forests, grasslands, deserts etc in their specialized habitats.