Final answer:
In a forest, trees like red oak, sugar maple, and white spruce are organisms and represent populations within the forest. The forest as a whole is not a population, but rather a community comprising different populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a forest, the red oak, sugar maple, and white spruce trees are all examples of organisms. However, the forest as a whole is not considered a population. Instead, each type of tree represents a separate population within the forest. A population refers to all the individuals of a particular species living within a specific area.
On the other hand, all the plant and animal species in the forest make up the community. A community is the sum of populations inhabiting a particular area. In this case, the community is composed of the populations of red oak, sugar maple, and white spruce trees.
Therefore, while the forest is not a population, it is part of a community made up of different populations of trees and other organisms.