What defines a population in ecological terms?

The definition of a population in ecological terms specifically refers to a group of organisms of the same species that inhabit a particular area at the same time. This concept emphasizes the importance of shared genetic and behavioral traits among individuals, which differentiate them from other species and allow them to interbreed.

Understanding a population in this way allows ecologists to study dynamics such as growth rates, population density, and interactions with other populations or environmental factors. Hence, when considering the choices provided, the one that accurately reflects this definition is the description of a group of organisms of the same species in a given area.

The other choices introduce various ecological concepts but do not accurately define a population. For instance, a group of different species coexisting describes a community rather than a population. All living and non-living components in an ecosystem refer to the broader ecological concept of an ecosystem itself. Variations of a single species across different ecosystems pertains more to the study of subspecies or populations within a species and does not encapsulate the specific characteristic of a population in a defined area.