Final answer:
A group of individuals of the same species living in a specific area is referred to as a population, and this term is central to the study of population ecology which considers the dynamics and interactions of species.
Step-by-step explanation:
A group of individuals of the same species inhabiting a given area is called a population. A population includes all the individual organisms of the same species that live and interact in the same area. For example, a forest may include many pine trees; all these pine trees represent the population of pine trees in that forest. Additionally, the concept extends beyond just plants, as animals such as angelfish or penguins living in one region would similarly form their own populations.
The study of these populations, known as population ecology, focuses on the dynamics of population change and how populations interact with their environment. Factors such as birth and death rates, species diversity, and community interactions are central to understanding population health and stability.