What term describes the role and position a species has in its environment?

The term that describes the role and position a species has in its environment is "niche." A species' niche encompasses various factors including its habitat, the resources it utilizes, its behaviors, interactions with other species, and its contribution to the ecosystem.

This concept is crucial for understanding how different species coexist and compete within an ecosystem. A niche can include the species' role as a predator, prey, decomposer, or producer, and illustrates how it fits into the larger ecological community. By defining a species' ecological niche, we gain insights into its survival strategies and its relationship with both abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) elements of its environment.

In contrast, a community refers to all the different species living and interacting in a particular area, while an ecosystem includes both the community of organisms and their physical environment. A habitat specifically refers to the natural environment in which a species lives, but it does not encompass the broader role that species play within that environment, which is outlined by the niche concept.