Final answer:
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area is called a population, which includes all organisms of a species that live and interact in a specific locale.
Step-by-step explanation:
A group of individuals of the same species living in the same area is called a population. This term refers to all the organisms of a particular species who are interacting and interbreeding within a given area. For instance, a forest populated by pine trees significant in number represents a population of pine trees in that specific forest.
By contrast, a community encompasses various populations of different species living and interacting in the same area. When considering broader ecological structures, an ecosystem consists of all populations of living organisms along with the abiotic components of their environment, interacting as a unit. Thus, in this context, the correct answer is (c) population.