Which term describes the living and nonliving components in a defined geographic area?

• A. Ecosystem
• B. Biosphere
• C. Population
• D. Habitat

Answer: (A)

An ecosystem is the living and nonliving components in a defined geographic area, along with the interactions between them. It includes biotic factors like plants, animals, fungi, and microbes, and abiotic factors such as sunlight, temperature, water, minerals, and soil. These parts influence one another and support processes like energy flow and nutrient cycling within that space. That combination of organisms and their physical environment within a specific area best fits the term described. In contrast, a biosphere covers Earth’s total ecosystems, a population is a group of the same species in an area, and a habitat is the particular place within the ecosystem where an organism lives.