Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their ___?

Ecology fundamentally focuses on understanding how organisms interact with each other and their environment. The term "environment" encompasses a broad range of factors, including both biotic (other living organisms) and abiotic (non-living elements such as climate, soil, and water) components that influence the lives and interactions of organisms.

In ecological studies, the environment is crucial as it determines the conditions under which organisms live, which in turn affects their behavior, distribution, and survival. These interactions can range from predator-prey dynamics to competition for resources and symbiotic relationships, all of which are influenced by the surrounding environment.

While "habitat," "niche," and "population" are important concepts within ecology, they are more specialized aspects of the broader term "environment." The habitat refers to the specific area where an organism lives, the niche describes the role of an organism within its environment, and population refers to a group of individuals of the same species. However, the term "environment" captures the entirety of external conditions that organisms interact with, making it the most fitting choice in the context of the question.