page_title: Biotic component
hierarchical_section_title: Biotic component
context_page_description: Biotic components, or biotic factors, can be described as any living component that affects another organism or shapes the ecosystem. This includes both animals that consume other organisms within their ecosystem, and the organism that is being consumed. Biotic factors also include human influence, pathogens, and disease outbreaks. Each biotic factor needs the proper amount of energy and nutrition to function day to day.
  Biotic components are typically sorted into three main categories:
  Producers, otherwise known as autotrophs, convert energy into food.
  Consumers, otherwise known as heterotrophs, depend upon producers for food.
  Decomposers, otherwise known as detritivores, break down chemicals from producers and consumers into simpler form which can be reused.
context_section_description: Biotic components, or biotic factors, can be described as any living component that affects another organism or shapes the ecosystem. This includes both animals that consume other organisms within their ecosystem, and the organism that is being consumed. Biotic factors also include human influence, pathogens, and disease outbreaks. Each biotic factor needs the proper amount of energy and nutrition to function day to day.  
  Biotic components are typically sorted into three main categories:
  Producers, otherwise known as autotrophs, convert energy (through the process of photosynthesis) into food.
  Consumers, otherwise known as heterotrophs, depend upon producers (and occasionally other consumers) for food.
  Decomposers, otherwise known as detritivores, break down chemicals from producers and consumers (usually antibiotic) into simpler form which can be reused.
caption: Diagram of a bacterium, tree, and a bee that are living factors of biotic components found in an ecosystem that are influenced by abiotic factors (non-living components).