Which ecological factor refers to living organisms in an ecosystem?

The term that refers to living organisms within an ecosystem is biotic factors. These factors encompass all the living components that interact in an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Biotic factors play a crucial role in shaping the structure of communities, influencing population dynamics, and affecting the flow of energy and nutrients through the ecosystem.

For instance, biotic interactions can include predation, competition, symbiosis, and mutualism, which all significantly contribute to the ecological balance. Understanding biotic factors is essential for studying ecosystems because they directly impact the survival and reproduction of species, their distribution, and their relationships with each other and with their abiotic environment (non-living components like soil, water, and climate).