Question

Your college campus, including all the humans and other living things that occupy it as well as its physical environment, such as the buildings, soil, water, and air, is a(n): a. population b. community c. ecosystem d. biosphere

Short answer

c. ecosystem

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Definitions

To solve the exercise, first understand the definitions:- **Population**: A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.- **Community**: All the populations of different species living in a particular area that interact with each other.- **Ecosystem**: All the living organisms (community) in a particular area, along with the non-living components (physical environment) such as water, soil, and air.- **Biosphere**: The global sum of all ecosystems, encompassing all living things and their relationships with the physical environment on Earth.

Identify the Components of the Campus

Think about all the components mentioned in the exercise:- Humans and other living things: These represent the community of different species.- Physical environment: Includes buildings, soil, water, and air.

Match the Definition to the Campus Description

Analyze the description of the college campus:- It includes both living organisms (community) and non-living components (physical environment).- The definition that encompasses both these aspects is that of an ecosystem.

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on the match with the definition, the campus can be best described as an **ecosystem**.

Key concepts

Population

A population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a specific geographic area. This might include the student population on your college campus, the number of squirrels in your local park, or the group of fish in a pond.
Populations are significant because they help us understand the dynamics of species in a particular habitat and how they interact with their environment. By studying populations, scientists can gather information about various aspects such as:

• Growth rates
• Birth and death rates
• Population density
• Biotic and abiotic factors influencing the population

It's important to note that populations do not exist in isolation. They interact with other populations in their habitat, which brings us to the next concept: community.

Community

A community is a collection of different populations living within a specific area. These populations interact with each other in various ways, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis. For instance, in your college campus, a community would consist of humans, birds, trees, small mammals, insects, and other living organisms.
Communities are diverse and can be analyzed by looking at:

• Species richness: the number of different species in the community
• Species diversity: the variety and abundance of species in the community
• Trophic interactions: how species interact within food chains and webs
• Ecological succession: how communities change over time

Understanding communities allows us to see how different species coexist, compete for resources, and contribute to the ecosystem's balance. Speaking of ecosystems, this leads us to our final concept: biosphere.

Biosphere

The biosphere refers to the global sum of all ecosystems. It's the zone of life on Earth, encompassing all living things and their relationships with the physical environment, such as air, water, and soil. The biosphere is vast and includes everything from the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountain peaks where life exists.
Important parts of the biosphere are:

• Ecosystems: smaller units within the biosphere comprising communities and their physical environment
• Biomes: large regions characterized by specific climate patterns and types of vegetation. Examples include deserts, forests, and tundras
• Cycles: natural processes like the carbon cycle, water cycle, and nitrogen cycle that sustain life
• Biodiversity: the variety of life forms and genetic differences within the biosphere

By studying the biosphere, scientists can understand global patterns and processes that drive life on Earth. This holistic view helps address large-scale environmental challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and conservation efforts.