All the organisms on your campus make up a. an ecosystem. b. a community. c. a population. d. the biosphere.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the definition of each term: Ecosystem, Community, Population, and Biosphere.
2. Understand that an ecosystem includes all the living things (plants, animals, organisms) in a given area, interacting with each other, and also with their non-living environments (weather, earth, sun, soil, climate, atmosphere).
3. Recognize that a community is a group of different species that live together in one area.
4. Note that a population refers to a group of the same species that lives in one area.
5. Determine which term best describes all the organisms on a campus, considering the interaction with the environment and the inclusion of multiple species.

Key Concepts

Ecosystem

An ecosystem encompasses all living organisms in a particular area, along with their physical environment, interacting as a system. It includes biotic components like plants and animals, as well as abiotic factors such as soil, water, and climate. Ecosystems can vary in size and complexity, from a small pond to a large forest.

Community

A community refers to a group of different species that live together in a specific area and interact with one another. It includes all the populations of various organisms, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, that coexist and form relationships, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis.

Population

A population is defined as a group of individuals of the same species that inhabit a specific area at the same time. Populations are characterized by their size, density, distribution, and reproductive patterns. Understanding population dynamics is crucial for studying species interactions and ecosystem health.