What term is used for an organism’s role in its environment?

The term that describes an organism's role in its environment is known as a niche. A niche encompasses how an organism interacts with both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements of its ecosystem. This includes the organism's habitat, the resources it uses, its place in the food web, its behaviors, and its interactions with other species.

For example, a bee has a niche that includes pollinating plants, which is crucial for plant reproduction. This role not only helps the bee gather nectar but also supports the ecosystem's plant population, demonstrating that niches are about the ecological functions of organisms within their habitats.

A habitat refers specifically to the physical environment where an organism lives, not its role. Community describes a group of different species living together in an area, while population refers to a group of individuals of the same species in a particular location. These terms focus on aspects of ecology that are different from the specific role of an organism, which is what the concept of a niche captures.