What does species richness refer to?

Species richness refers specifically to the number of different species present in a given ecosystem. It is a crucial aspect of biodiversity, as it provides insight into the variety of life forms that coexist in a particular environment. High species richness indicates a diverse ecosystem that can contribute to its overall stability and resilience, allowing it to withstand environmental changes.

Understanding species richness is important in conservation efforts, as ecosystems with greater species diversity are often more productive and can offer various ecosystem services. In contrast, the other options do not accurately define species richness. The total number of individuals in a population pertains to population density rather than diversity. The variety of habitats in an area speaks to habitat diversity, not species diversity, and the genetic diversity of a single species is a measure of variation within that species rather than between different species.