autoecous
|au-to-e-cous|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔːtoʊˈiːkəs/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəʊˈiːkəs/
single-host; self-housed
Etymology
'autoecous' originates from New Latin/modern scientific formation, ultimately from Greek elements 'autos' meaning 'self' and 'oikos' meaning 'house' or 'dwelling'.
'autoecous' was formed in scientific (especially botanical and mycological) usage from New Latin/Neo-Greek combining elements (auto- + -oecous/-oecious) and entered specialized English usage in the late 19th to early 20th century to describe organisms completing life cycles on a single host.
Initially it combined the Greek roots to mean 'self-housed' or 'in a single house'; over time it came to be used specifically for organisms that complete their life cycles on one host (the current specialized biological meaning).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
(of a parasitic organism, especially certain fungi such as rusts) completing its entire life cycle on a single host species; not requiring an alternate host.
The rust fungus was autoecous, completing its entire life cycle on one species of grass.
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Adjective 2
living independently in its own ecological niche (used more generally in ecological contexts).
Some researchers described the isolated population as autoecous, adapted to a very specific microhabitat.
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Last updated: 2025/11/25 07:32