Biotic component

An ecosystem contains biotic components, which are living organisms, and abiotic components, such as air, water and soil. Materials continually move between these components. Carbon, for example, can be part of carbon dioxide in the air, then become part of a plant, and later return to the air.

An ecosystem contains biotic components, its living organisms, and abiotic components, its non-living surroundings such as air, water and soil. Organisms take materials from these surroundings to build their bodies and carry out life processes. Those materials can later return to the environment and be used again.