Final answer:
The nonliving component required by a red cardinal for survival is oxygen, which is essential for the process of cellular respiration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nonliving component required by a red cardinal to survive from the options provided is oxygen (C). While seeds, berries, and insects (B) are biotic factors, since they are living or once-living organisms, and carbon dioxide (A) is typically more relevant to plant life, especially during the process of photosynthesis. Birds, similar to mammals, require oxygen for cellular respiration, which is critical for their survival. Therefore, among the given options, only oxygen fits the description of a nonliving or abiotic factor essential for the survival of a red cardinal.
Ecosystems and Survival
In any ecosystem, living organisms rely on both biotic and abiotic elements for survival. Abiotic components, such as air (which includes oxygen), water, and sunlight, are essential for the physiological processes of all living organisms, including red cardinals. Red cardinals perform cellular respiration like all other animals, using oxygen to convert the foods they eat (seeds, berries, and insects) into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.