Ecology
Life processes of living organisms are affected by the environment in which they
live. The scientific study of the interaction between the organism and their
environment is called ecology
The word ‘ecology has a greek origin. “Oikos’ means home, ‘logos’ means to
study. Ernst Haeckel coined the term ‘ecology’ in 1869. The term “environment’
zefers to the surrounding of the organism.
It includes non-living and living components that affect the life and
development of the organism in its natural surroundings. The natural
surroundings of an organism is called ‘habitat
The non-living components are called abiotic factors (rain, wind, temperature,
soil, pollution, soil, and sunlight ete); living components are called biotic factors.
Generally, ecology is divided into autecology and synecology.
a. Autecology:
Autecology deals with the study of the individual organism or an individual
species and its population. Here, the focus is on life-histories and behaviour, as
means of adaptation to the environment, is made. Autecology is also called
“species ecology.”
b. Synecology:
Synecology deals with the study of groups of organisms which are associated
together as a unit. In other words it is study of communities, their composition,
their behaviour and relation to the environment. Synecology is also called
“Ecology of communities.”
Synecology is further sub divided into:
(i) Population ecology:
It relates the organism with various groups of organisms and their inter-
relationship.
(ii) Gene ecology:
It deals with the genetic make-up of species in relation to the environment.
Life processes of living organisms are affected by the environment in which they
live. The scientific study of the interaction between the organism and their
environment is called ecology
The word ‘ecology has a greek origin. “Oikos’ means home, ‘logos’ means to
study. Ernst Haeckel coined the term ‘ecology’ in 1869. The term “environment’
zefers to the surrounding of the organism.
It includes non-living and living components that affect the life and
development of the organism in its natural surroundings. The natural
surroundings of an organism is called ‘habitat
The non-living components are called abiotic factors (rain, wind, temperature,
soil, pollution, soil, and sunlight ete); living components are called biotic factors.
Generally, ecology is divided into autecology and synecology.
a. Autecology:
Autecology deals with the study of the individual organism or an individual
species and its population. Here, the focus is on life-histories and behaviour, as
means of adaptation to the environment, is made. Autecology is also called
“species ecology.”
b. Synecology:
Synecology deals with the study of groups of organisms which are associated
together as a unit. In other words it is study of communities, their composition,
their behaviour and relation to the environment. Synecology is also called
“Ecology of communities.”
Synecology is further sub divided into:
(i) Population ecology:
It relates the organism with various groups of organisms and their inter-
relationship.
(ii) Gene ecology:
It deals with the genetic make-up of species in relation to the environment.
