Final answer:
The term referring to a group of organisms that can interbreed and share common characteristics is 'Species'. Species are capable of producing fertile offspring and have a significant role in understanding biodiversity and ecological interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to a group of organisms with common characteristics and the ability to interbreed is b) Species. A species is a group of individual organisms that are genetically similar and share both external and internal characteristics, which makes them capable of interbreeding and producing viable, fertile offspring. This definition of species is crucial in understanding the biodiversity and community dynamics within an ecosystem. For example, in the scientific name Homo sapiens, sapiens denotes the species name.
In ecological terms, individuals of a species may form a population when they live in the same area and interact with each other. A community comprises all of the populations of different species within a given area. Studying these levels of organization, including species interactions and community characteristics like biodiversity and species richness, helps us understand ecological communities and the ecosystems they are part of.
It's also important to note that individual species in an ecosystem occupy a specific ecological niche, representing not only their physical space but also their functional role in the ecosystem. The concept of a niche includes how a species interacts with both biotic and abiotic factors, such as the food it consumes and how it acquires this food.