Final answer:
The Correct option is 1). The smallest ecological entity is the individual, with each increasing level of organization (population, community, ecosystem) including more interactions and complexities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The smallest ecological entity is the individual. In the context of ecological studies:
- Individual refers to a single organism, which is the basic unit of ecology.
- Population ecology deals with groups of individuals of the same species living in an area.
- Community ecology encompasses all the different species living in a particular area.
- Ecosystem ecology involves the study of communities and their non-living environments together.
Therefore, when we consider levels of ecological organization from least inclusive to most inclusive, the correct sequence would be individual, population, community, and ecosystem.
- Organismal ecology focuses on individual life processes and interactions with the environment.
- Population describes a group of interbreeding individuals of the same species in an area.
- Community refers to all the populations of different species that interact in a specific area.
- The distinction between a community and an ecosystem is important because the ecosystem also includes abiotic factors, not just the biotic community.