Final answer:
The biosphere refers to the part of Earth, including land, water, and air, where life is found, encompassing ecosystems which contain biotic and abiotic components that interact in complex relationships.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biosphere is the part of Earth where life exists. It encompasses many environments, including the land, water, and air. Plants, animals, fungi, protists, and countless microbes are part of the biosphere, which extends from the deep sea to high in the atmosphere, covering parts of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.
The nutritional relationships among biotic components in an ecosystem are structured as a network of interdependent layers, starting with the primary producers — mainly plants — that synthesize food through photosynthesis. Next come the consumers, which include herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and finally decomposers like fungi and bacteria that break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil for use by producers. These interactions among biotic components, along with abiotic factors like water and sunlight, create a complex system known as an ecosystem.