Final answer:
The species composition of a community is known as species richness, representing the number of different species and their relative abundance within a habitat or ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation:
The species composition of a community is also known as the species richness, which is essentially a list of the various species found in that community. Species richness is a fundamental concept within community ecology, representing the number of different species living within a habitat or ecosystem, along with their relative abundance.
Communities evolve through interactions like predation, herbivory, and symbiosis, leading to a diverse array of defense mechanisms like mechanical defenses, warning coloration, and mimicry. The community structure incorporates foundation and keystone species, which are pivotal in maintaining the overall ecology. Communities change and adapt when disturbed, through a process known as succession, leading to a stable structure over time.
Such an understanding of species richness and the dynamics of communities is crucial for conservation efforts, enabling ecologists and environmentalists to maintain biodiversity, which is vital for ecosystem health and resilience.