What term refers to living things in an ecosystem?

The term that refers to living things in an ecosystem is "biotic." In ecological terms, biotic components include all organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms that interact with each other and their environment. These living elements play crucial roles in ecosystems, influencing processes such as nutrient cycling, energy flow, and interactions among species, including predation, competition, and symbiosis.

In contrast, abiotic factors are non-living components of the environment, such as water, soil, air, temperature, and sunlight, which also influence the living organisms but are not considered living themselves. Geological focuses on the physical structure of the Earth, while environmental generally refers to the broader context of surroundings, which can include both biotic and abiotic factors but does not specifically denote living organisms.