Final answer:
A population in biology encompasses a group of organisms of the same species living and interacting in the same area at the same time. The correct answer to this question is 'a group of lions of a single species that live in the same general area of a prairie at the same time,' as this denotes a single-species population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Populations in Biology
The term population in biology refers to a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same area and have the potential to interact with one another. When considering an example of a population, all individuals must be of a single species and are located in the same area at the same time, as they must have the ability to reproduce with one another and form a genetically related group. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question about which is an example of a population would be: "A group of lions of a single species that live in the same general area of a prairie at the same time".
Species are identified by the capability of their members to interbreed and produce fertile offspring. This means that a group of organisms that cannot reproduce with one another to have children are considered different species. Thus, groups consisting of different species, or groups that are spread out over different times, do not meet the criteria to be classified as a single population under biological definitions.