Which of the following best describes biodiversity?

The concept of biodiversity encompasses the variety of life forms in a given area, which includes species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecological diversity. By definition, biodiversity reflects the range of species, their habitats, and the ecosystems they form, highlighting the intricate relationships and interactions among organisms and their environments.

Choosing the option that describes biodiversity as the variety of life in the world or a specific habitat is accurate because it captures the essence of what biodiversity entails. It emphasizes not just the existence of multiple species but also their interactions and the complexity of life in different ecosystems.

In contrast, while the stability of an ecosystem and the total number of species in a geographical area can imply aspects related to biodiversity, they do not encompass its full scope. The growth of species population over time pertains more to population dynamics rather than the variety of life itself. Therefore, the option highlighting the variety of life directly aligns with the accepted scientific understanding and definition of biodiversity.