Autecology is the

Options

A. relation of a population to its environment
B. relation of an individual to its environment
C. relation of a community to its environment
D. relation of a biome to its environment

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Definition of Autecology**: Autecology is a branch of ecology that focuses on the study of individual organisms and their interactions with the environment. It examines how a single species interacts with its physical and biological surroundings.

2. **Focus of Study**: In autecology, the emphasis is on understanding the behavior, physiology, and adaptations of individual organisms in response to environmental factors such as temperature, light, water, and nutrients.

3. **Comparison with Synecology**: Autecology is often compared to synecology, which is another branch of ecology. While autecology studies individual organisms, synecology looks at groups of organisms or communities and their interactions with each other and their environment.

4. **Importance of Autecology**: Understanding autecology is crucial for conservation efforts, habitat management, and predicting how species might respond to changes in their environment, such as climate change or habitat destruction.

5. **Applications**: The principles of autecology can be applied in various fields, including wildlife management, agriculture, and environmental science, to help in the sustainable management of ecosystems.