Final answer:
All the parts mentioned—animals, annual rainfall, plants, and soil chemistry—are components of an ecosystem, comprising both biotic and abiotic factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
An ecosystem comprises both biotic components (living things like animals and plants) and abiotic components (non-living things like rainfall, soil chemistry, water, air, and sunlight). In an ecosystem, biotic factors such as the animals and plants living in a given area interact with abiotic factors, including the amount of annual rainfall and the soil chemistry, to create a dynamic and interdependent system. Ecosystem biologists study these interactions, focusing on how nutrients and energy circulate within this complex web.
Therefore, all of the parts mentioned in the question are components of an ecosystem. This includes 1) the animals living in a given area, 2) the amount of annual rainfall, 3) the plants, and 4) the soil chemistry. Together, these factors contribute to the unique characteristics and functioning of a particular ecosystem.