Introduction
Group of individuals or species who mainly lives in a particular region in a particular time is termed as population. Whereas communities act as intercommunication between entities coming from different species except for the interactions with the abiotic factors. Among all the all living organisms, human beings are always considered as highly evolved one with high structure and organisation. Human beings follow specific hierarchies that can be studied on a hierarchy scale from smallest to largest organisation.
Levels of Organization
As per different studies done by different ecologist, there are mainly six levels of organisation:
Individual: Any single living organism is known as an individual. They put the base for a complex ecosystem. A single organism is not able to breed with other species or groups as they are contradicting with plants who have the capability to crossbreed with other plants.
Population: Population is considered as the second level of organisation as they live at a particular time in a particular region. All individuals who belong to the same species form the population of that particular species. Example: population varies in different aspects like the colour of eyes, hair, skin colour, size, etc.
Community: In a given particular area there is a particular type of population which forms a community. Like in aquatic ecosystems along with fish and sharks other organisms are also found like phytoplanktons, microorganisms, bacterias, algae all these combining to form communities. It is known as the third level of organisation. Biodiversity and population of various species come under community level of organisation.
Ecosystem: It is known as a fourth level organisation of ecosystems. The ecosystem comprises more than one community species, who further interact with the surrounding and environment. It is made up of two components: biotic component and abiotic component and both of the components interact with each other to form an ecosystem.
Biome: It is known as the fifth level of the organisation of ecosystems. Biomes contain both plants and animals of specific areas that have some similar characteristics. They develop this characteristic from the adaptive capability to their surroundings. Naming of biomes is done after the types of vegetation they possess: terrestrial biome, tundra biome and many more.
Biosphere: Biosphere is known as the highest level of organisation of ecosystems and biomes. It is a combination of all types of ecosystems and different zones of life present on the earth.
Explanation For Can Community Contain Two Populations Same Species:
It is not at all possible that a community can contain two populations of the same species but at the same time they contain populations of organisms of different species. As per definition, population is a group of organisms consisting of the same species living in a particular region.
It can also be said that, if the same species animals live in the same region at the same time then it is termed as the population. Example: population of Asian tigers, amphibians in a pond are examples of the population.
Whereas a community consists of all populations of organisms or different species living and their interaction with each other within the same region at the same time. This is termed as a biological community. Example of a biological community is: all animals, birds, plants, trees, insects, reptiles living in a forest can be called as the community.
FAQs on Can Community Contain Two Populations Same Species
1. What is the key difference between a population and a community in ecology?
The key difference lies in species composition. A population is a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species living in a specific geographical area. In contrast, a community is an assemblage of all the populations of different species (like plants, animals, and microbes) that live and interact with each other in the same area.
2. Can a population be made up of more than one species?
No, by definition, a population consists of organisms from only one species. For instance, all the Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans form one population. If you include the deer, crocodiles, and mangrove trees in that area, you are no longer describing a population but a community.
3. Can a community contain two different populations of the same species?
No, this is not possible based on ecological definitions. A community is composed of populations of different species. If you have two groups of the same species, they are considered part of the same population, assuming they are in the same geographical area and can interbreed. A community, however, must include populations of at least two different species to be defined as such.
4. Why is it incorrect to say a community is made up of a single species?
It is incorrect because the very concept of a community is built on interspecific interactions—the relationships between different species. A group of a single species is a population. A community only exists when multiple populations of different species (e.g., predators, prey, producers, decomposers) live together in a defined habitat and interact, forming a complex web of life.
5. How can the relationship between population and community be explained with a real-world example, like a forest?
In a forest ecosystem:
- A group of all the deer would be a population.
- A group of all the oak trees would be another population.
- A group of all the earthworms would be a third population.
6. What are some examples of a biological community?
Examples of a biological community include:
- A Coral Reef: This includes populations of various corals, fish, sea anemones, algae, and bacteria all interacting in one location.
- A Desert Community: This comprises populations of cacti, lizards, scorpions, snakes, and desert shrubs.
- A Pond Community: This consists of populations of fish, frogs, water lilies, plankton, and aquatic insects living together.
7. If two groups of the same species are separated by a geographical barrier, are they considered one population or two?
They are typically considered two separate populations. Even though they are the same species, a key part of the definition of a population is that its members live in a particular area and have the potential to interbreed. A significant geographical barrier like a mountain prevents this interbreeding and gene flow. Therefore, ecologists would classify the group on each side of the mountain as a distinct population.
