What is autecology and synecology?

Answer

### Step-by-Step Text Solution

1. **Understanding Ecology**:
- Ecology is defined as the study of relationships between living organisms and their abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) components in the environment.

2. **Branches of Ecology**:
- Ecology is divided into two main branches: autecology and synecology.

3. **Definition of Autecology**:
- Autecology refers to the study of the environment in relation to a single species. It focuses on how one specific species interacts with its environment, including factors such as its habitat, food sources, and interactions with other species.

4. **Definition of Synecology**:
- Synecology, on the other hand, is the study of groups of species that coexist in a particular area and how they interact with each other and their environment. This branch examines community dynamics, species interactions, and the overall ecosystem.

5. **Key Differences**:
- The main difference between autecology and synecology is that autecology focuses on individual species, while synecology looks at multiple species and their interactions within a community.