Which term best describes the role and position of a species within its environment?

The term that best describes the role and position of a species within its environment is "ecological niche." An ecological niche encompasses not only where a species lives (its habitat) but also how it interacts with both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) elements of its environment. This includes the species' role in the food web, its reproductive strategies, and its adaptations to certain environmental conditions.

For example, a niche includes what resources a species uses, how it obtains these resources, and how it interacts with other species, such as through competition, predation, or symbiosis. This concept illustrates the unique position that a species occupies within an ecosystem, taking into account its behavior, diet, and interactions with other organisms, which collectively contribute to its ecological role.

In comparison, a habitat refers specifically to the physical environment where a species lives, a biome is a larger ecological classification characterized by regional climate and vegetation types, and a population is a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area. Understanding the ecological niche of a species provides deeper insights into its survival and impact on the ecosystem.