What role do biotic factors play in an ecosystem?

Biotic factors play a crucial role in ecosystems as they encompass all the interactions and relationships among living organisms. This includes various forms of relationships such as predation, competition, symbiosis, and mutualism. These interactions can influence the structure, dynamics, and health of ecosystems.

For instance, the presence of predators can control the population size of prey species, which in turn affects the vegetation and overall ecosystem balance. Additionally, the interactions among plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms contribute to nutrient cycling, energy flow, and the overall stability of an ecosystem. Without these biotic interactions, an ecosystem would not function effectively, as the balance of species and their roles within the environment is essential for sustaining life.

In contrast, the other options refer to factors that either describe abiotic elements such as climate and physical conditions, focus solely on inorganic resources without regard to living organisms, or suggest that certain factors do not influence population dynamics, which overlooks the importance of biotic interactions in shaping population trends and ecosystem health.