Which term best describes the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms?

• A. Abiotic Factors
• B. Biotic Factors
• C. Producers
• D. Decomposers

Answer: (B)

The living components of an ecosystem are biotic factors. This umbrella term includes all organisms—plants, animals, and microorganisms—and their interactions with each other. It’s the contrast to abiotic factors, which are the nonliving parts like sunlight, water, air, and temperature. Within biotic factors, you have producers that make energy from the sun, consumers that eat other organisms, and decomposers that break down dead material. Because the question asks for the term that describes all living parts of an ecosystem, biotic factors is the most inclusive and accurate choice.