In ecology, a living component of the environment of an organism is known by which of the following terms?

Introduction / Context:
Ecology deals with the interaction between organisms and their environment. The environment is made up of both living and nonliving components, and it is important to distinguish between them in ecological terminology. This question asks you to identify the correct term for a living part of an organism environment, which is a key concept in basic ecology and environmental science.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question focuses on living components of the environment.
• The options given are habitat, biotic factor, abiotic factor, and nonliving factor.
• We assume understanding that environment includes both biotic and abiotic components.

Concept / Approach:
The environment of an organism can be divided into biotic and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living components such as other plants, animals, microorganisms, and decomposers. Abiotic factors include physical and chemical elements like temperature, light, water, soil, and minerals. The word habitat refers to the place where an organism lives, not specifically to a living component. Therefore the correct approach is to recognize that a living part of the environment is called a biotic factor.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that biotic means living and abiotic means nonliving. Step 2: Understand that biotic factors in an environment include plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and other living organisms. Step 3: Note that abiotic factors include nonliving components such as air, water, sunlight, soil, and temperature. Step 4: Recognize that the term habitat refers to the natural home or address of an organism, which may contain both living and nonliving elements. Step 5: See that nonliving factor is simply another way to describe an abiotic factor, and does not refer to a living component. Step 6: Conclude that a living part of the environment is correctly termed a biotic factor.
Verification / Alternative check:
Any standard ecology chapter discusses biotic and abiotic components. Diagrams of ecosystems usually label living organisms such as trees, herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers as biotic factors. In contrast, light, water, temperature, and soil nutrients are labeled abiotic. Since the question clearly emphasizes a living part of the environment, the only matching term is biotic factor. This quick cross check confirms the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Habitat: This word refers to the overall place where an organism lives, which includes both living and nonliving surroundings, so it is not specifically a living component.
Abiotic Factor: Abiotic means nonliving, so this term applies to physical and chemical environmental factors, not to living ones.
Nonliving Factor: This is just another way to say abiotic factor and therefore describes nonliving components, the opposite of what the question asks.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse habitat with biotic factor and think that habitat is a living component, but habitat is actually the entire place an organism inhabits. Another error is mixing up the spellings and meanings of biotic and abiotic. A good memory trick is to associate the prefix bio with life, so biotic factors are the living ones. Remembering this distinction helps in many ecology based questions in exams.

Final Answer:
A living component of the environment of an organism is called a Biotic Factor.