What term refers to a group of sexually reproducing individuals of the same species that share a common gene pool?

The term that refers to a group of sexually reproducing individuals of the same species that share a common gene pool is "Mendelian population." This concept is rooted in population genetics, where a Mendelian population is defined as a group of interbreeding individuals that are genetically similar due to the shared environment and mating within the same species. Within this framework, a Mendelian population is crucial for understanding how genetic variation is distributed and how evolutionary processes operate within a species.

The term encapsulates the dynamics of inheritance and variation over generations. In a Mendelian population, alleles are exchanged through reproduction, and this interchange contributes to the genetic variability observed in populations, which is essential for natural selection and adaptation.

In contrast, terms like "gene pool" refer more broadly to the collective genetic diversity of a population, but do not necessarily imply interbreeding, while "species group" and "genetic community" are not established terms in population genetics in the same way and do not convey the specific dynamics found in a Mendelian population. Thus, the correct answer encompasses both the concept of shared genetic material and the active reproductive exchange that defines a population within a species.