A single population is made of A) multiple organisms of the same species. B) multiple organisms of different species. C) multiple communities. D) multiple biomes.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: A) multiple organisms of the same species.
Explanation
In biology and ecology, a population refers specifically to a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time and are capable of interbreeding. Therefore, the correct answer is A) multiple organisms of the same species.
A species is defined as a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring. When we refer to a population, we are zooming in on a single species within a defined geographic location. For example, all the wolves in Yellowstone National Park form a wolf population. They interact, share resources, and have the potential to mate with one another, which is a key feature of a biological population.
This concept is foundational in ecology and is essential for understanding how ecosystems function. Populations are the building blocks for studying changes over time, such as growth rates, birth and death rates, immigration and emigration, and how they respond to environmental pressures like food availability or predation.
In contrast:
- Option B refers to multiple organisms of different species, which together form a community, not a population.
- Option C refers to multiple communities, which make up an ecosystem, encompassing both living organisms and the physical environment.
- Option D refers to multiple biomes, which are large geographic regions characterized by specific climates and ecosystems, such as the tundra or rainforest.
Understanding the distinction between these ecological levels—organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome—is crucial for studying life sciences. Populations help scientists track how species adapt to their environments, interact with others, and change over time due to evolutionary pressures.
