A population is a group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time that can potentially interbreed
A population is a group of same-species organisms living in the same place at the same time. They can breed with each other.
Real World
All the Adélie penguins breeding on Ross Island, Antarctica, during the 2024 season form one population — they share the same habitat, overlap in time, and can interbreed freely.
Exam Focus
Include 'potentially interbreed' in your definition — examiners distinguish this from organisms merely living nearby but reproductively isolated.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
How well did you know this?