Biotic components

An ecosystem includes living organisms (biotic components) and non-living surroundings (abiotic components), such as air, water and soil. Organisms need materials to build new cells and grow. These materials are not used just once: they move between organisms and their surroundings, providing building blocks for future organisms.

An ecosystem contains organisms and the non-living environment with which they interact. Its biotic components are living things, including plants, animals and microorganisms. Its abiotic components include air, water and soil.

An ecosystem contains living organisms—its biotic components—and non-living surroundings, or abiotic components, such as air, water and soil. Organisms need materials from those surroundings to build and maintain their bodies. The materials do not move in one direction and disappear: they pass between organisms and the environment repeatedly.

Plants, animals and microorganisms are its biotic components; air, water and soil are abiotic components. Organisms take substances from their surroundings, pass some on through food chains and return substances to the environment. These movements form cycles rather than one-way journeys.