What term refers to the number of different species in a specific area?

The term that refers to the number of different species in a specific area is species richness. Species richness is a key component of biodiversity, reflecting the variety of species present within an ecosystem. It essentially counts how many distinct species exist in a designated area without considering the abundance of each species or the ecological roles they play. This can provide important insights into the health and stability of ecosystems; higher species richness often indicates a more resilient and functioning ecological community.

In contrast, a diversity index takes into account both the number of species and their relative abundances, giving a different perspective on biodiversity. Population density refers to the number of individuals of a particular species per unit area, which does not address the variety of species present. Genetic variability pertains to the variation of genes within a species, which is a different aspect of biological diversity that pertains to the genetic differences among individuals rather than the number of different species present in an area.