An ecosystem is a structural and functional unit in ecology that describes living organisms, their physical environment, and all their interrelationships in a particular unit space. Ecosystems consist of two main components. The biotic component consists of all animals, plants, and other living organisms. The abiotic component consists of all non-living aspects of the physical environment (climate, non-living components of soil, nutrient and light availability, etc.). The interactions between biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem naturally maintain an equilibrium in the environment.