What term describes a group of the same species living in one area?

• A. Population
• B. Community
• C. Ecosystem
• D. Habitat

Answer: (A)

Population is the term for a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area at a given time. This focuses on one species within a defined space, which is why it’s the best fit for describing a group of the same species in one area. A community, by contrast, includes all the living organisms in that area across different species; an ecosystem adds the interactions with the physical environment and energy flow; a habitat is the actual place that provides the resources the population needs to survive. For example, a population of red foxes in a meadow is that species living together in that area, while the meadow’s other species make up the community, and the physical factors like soil and climate are part of the ecosystem. The meadow itself serves as the habitat that supports the fox population.