What do biotic factors in an environment refer to?

Biotic factors in an environment refer specifically to the living components that can affect organisms and their interactions within an ecosystem. This includes various species interactions such as predation, competition, symbiosis, and disease. These interactions play a crucial role in shaping the structure and functioning of the ecosystem, influencing population dynamics and community composition.

The other options focus on abiotic factors, such as physical conditions and geographical features, which do not encompass the living elements of an ecosystem. Understanding biotic factors is essential for ecological studies, as they illustrate how living organisms interact with each other and their environment to create complex ecological relationships.