Final answer:
All the meerkats living in a wildlife refuge form a population. This term specifically refers to individuals of the same species in a given area, whereas a community includes different species interacting in that area. The answer to the student's question is a) Population.
Step-by-step explanation:
All the meerkats that live in a wildlife refuge make up a population. This is because the term population in Biology refers to all the individuals of a species living within a specific area. In contrast, a community consists of multiple populations of different species that inhabit a particular area and interact with each other. A biosphere is an even broader term that encompasses all ecosystems on Earth, including land, water, and portions of the atmosphere. As for a niche, it refers to the role a species plays within its ecosystem, including its interactions with other species and its environment.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is a) Population, which is defined as all the individuals of a single species living in the same area. Populations and communities are fundamental concepts in ecology, as they help scientists study how species interact and compete for resources within an ecosystem. While populations comprise only members of one species, communities include all living organisms in an area, showing the interconnectedness within an ecosystem.