Which term describes a community of living organisms and their interactions with the environment?

The term that describes a community of living organisms and their interactions with the environment is an ecosystem. An ecosystem encompasses not only the biotic components, which include all the living organisms such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, but also the abiotic components like air, water, soil, and climate that interact with these living organisms.

Ecosystems are characterized by the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients, reflecting the complex relationships among organisms and their physical surroundings. In an ecosystem, species coexist and engage in various interactions, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis, which play crucial roles in maintaining the ecological balance.

Other terms mentioned refer to specific aspects of ecological study. For instance, a habitat refers to the specific environment where an organism lives, emphasizing the location rather than the interactions. A population refers to a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area, highlighting the species' dynamics rather than the community's interactions. A biome is a larger classification that includes multiple ecosystems characterized by similar climate conditions and types of organisms, so it does not focus on the specific interactions within a defined community.