[Campbell Biology P.53] What is the primary difference between a biological community and a... | Practice Question

What is the primary difference between a biological community and a population, as described in the text?

  • A: A community includes all living and nonliving components, while a population only includes living components.
  • B: A population consists of individuals of multiple species, whereas a community consists of individuals of a single species.
  • C: A community comprises all the populations of different species in an area, while a population consists of all individuals of a single species in an area.
  • D: A population is a set of communities, and a community is a set of organisms.

Explanation

The text states: "A population consists of all the individuals of a species living within the bounds of a specified area that interbreed with each other." And "The array of organisms inhabiting a particular ecosystem is called a biological community... A community is therefore the set of populations that inhabit a particular area." This clearly distinguishes a single species population from multiple species community .