Which list correctly orders the examples of an organism, population, community, and ecosystem?

• A. Deer → herd of deer → deer, rabbits, and trees → forest
• B. Herd of deer → deer → forest → deer, rabbits, and trees
• C. Forest → deer, rabbits, and trees → herd of deer → deer
• D. Deer, rabbits, and trees → deer → herd of deer → forest

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the hierarchical levels of biological organization. These levels are organism, population, community, and ecosystem. Each level builds upon the previous one, increasing in complexity.
2. Step 2: Define each term: An organism is a single individual living entity (e.g., a deer). A population is a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area (e.g., a herd of deer). A community includes all the populations of different species living and interacting in a specific area (e.g., deer, rabbits, and trees). An ecosystem includes the community and its physical environment (e.g., a forest).
3. Step 3: Analyze the options provided in the problem. Look for the sequence that correctly follows the hierarchy: organism → population → community → ecosystem.
4. Step 4: Match the examples in the options to the definitions. For instance, 'deer' represents an organism, 'herd of deer' represents a population, 'deer, rabbits, and trees' represent a community, and 'forest' represents an ecosystem.
5. Step 5: Select the option that correctly orders the examples based on the hierarchy. Verify that the sequence aligns with the definitions and examples provided in the earlier steps.