In community ecology, which statement best explains how a population differs from a community?

• A. A population includes all the abiotic factors in an area, whereas a community includes only the biotic factors.
• B. A population consists of individuals of the same species in a given area, whereas a community consists of populations of different species interacting in the same area.
• C. A population refers to a group of different species living together, whereas a community refers to one species living in multiple habitats.
• D. A population is all organisms on Earth, whereas a community is all members of a single species in one area.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of a population in ecology. A population is a group of individuals belonging to the same species that live in a specific geographic area and can interbreed.
2. Step 2: Understand the definition of a community in ecology. A community consists of all the populations of different species that live and interact within a particular area.
3. Step 3: Compare the two concepts by focusing on species composition: a population includes only one species, while a community includes multiple species.
4. Step 4: Recognize that abiotic factors (non-living components like temperature, water, soil) are not part of populations or communities but are part of the ecosystem.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the key difference is that a population is a single species group in an area, whereas a community is multiple species populations interacting in the same area.