autoecy
|au-to-ec-y|
🇺🇸
/ˌɔːtoʊˈiːsi/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəʊˈiːsi/
ecology of one species
Etymology
'autoecy' originates from New Latin/Neo-Latin, built from Greek elements: 'autos' meaning 'self' and 'oikos' meaning 'house' or 'environment'.
'autoecy' developed in scientific usage from formations like the English 'autecology' and the German 'Autökologie' in the late 19th to early 20th century, and entered modern English as 'autoecy' or 'autecology'.
Initially it referred specifically to the study of a single species in relation to its environment; this core sense has been retained, though usage has varied between the terms 'autecology', 'autoecology' and the noun 'autoecy'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the study or description of the ecology of a single species — its habits, life cycle, and relations to the environment (also called autecology or autoecology).
The paper focused on the autoecy of the island lizard to identify the factors limiting its distribution.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the ecological characteristics or way of life of a particular species considered in isolation (i.e., the species' own ecological niche and adaptations).
Conservation plans must consider the autoecy of the plant species when restoring its habitat.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/25 06:08