Which of the following would be considered a biotic factor?

Biotic factors refer to the living components of an ecosystem that influence the structure and function of that ecosystem. Plants and animals are prime examples of biotic factors because they interact with one another and with their environment, playing significant roles in processes such as nutrient cycling, predation, competition, and symbiosis.

In contrast, soil pH, water availability, and temperature are considered abiotic factors because they are non-living components that affect the living organisms in the ecosystem. For instance, soil pH can influence plant growth, water availability is crucial for sustaining life, and temperature affects metabolic processes. However, none of these non-living factors can be classified as biotic since they do not involve living organisms. Thus, plants and animals represent the biotic aspect of ecosystems, making them the correct choice in this context.