Biotic factors refer to which of the following?

• A. Abiotic factors
• B. Decomposers
• C. Living organisms
• D. Nonliving environmental elements

Answer: (C)

Biotic factors are the living parts of an ecosystem—the organisms themselves and how they interact. This includes plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other microorganisms, as well as the roles they play (producers, consumers, decomposers) in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Abiotic factors are nonliving elements like temperature, sunlight, water, and soil minerals, which contrast with the living components. Among the options, living organisms best captures biotic factors because it covers all the living parts of an ecosystem. Decomposers are living, but choosing living organisms is more inclusive since it includes plants and animals too.