What constitutes a community in ecological terms?

In ecological terms, a community is defined as a collection of different species that interact and coexist in a given area. This includes various organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, all of which form complex relationships with each other, such as predation, competition, mutualism, and commensalism. The interactions among these different species contribute to the ecosystem's dynamics, including nutrient cycling, energy flow, and biodiversity.

In contrast, a single species living in an area represents a population, which does not capture the interactions between various species. Similarly, a group of the same species in a defined territory also refers to a population rather than a community. A habitat consists of the physical environment that supports life, encompassing various communities, but it does not denote the interplay of species among themselves. Thus, the essence of a community lies in the diversity of interacting species that cohabitate, making the definition that describes them living and interacting together the most accurate and comprehensive.