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The correct answer to the question is: ecosystem.
Here's why:
1. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment (such as air, water, and soil). It includes all the interactions between these organisms and their physical environment.
2. In the context of a forest, all the animals and plants living there, along with the abiotic factors like sunlight, soil, water, and air, collectively make up an ecosystem. This ecosystem is a complex and interconnected system where each component plays a vital role in maintaining the balance and health of the environment.
3. On the other hand, a community refers to the populations of different species living and interacting with each other in a specific area. While a population represents a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area.
Therefore, in the scenario of animals and plants inhabiting a forest, they form an ecosystem due to the intricate relationships and dependencies between the living organisms and their surroundings.
