• Living and nonliving things comprise an ecosystem.forest remains image by Andrew Kazmierski from Fotolia.com
  
  An ecosystem can be defined as a group of living and nonliving things that interact with each other. Ecosystems can range in size from a very small area to Earth in its entirety. Any change in either the living or nonliving part of an ecosystem will have an effect on the dynamic of the ecosystem.
  
  

Atmosphere

• Earth's atmosphere provides organisms with water through the process of precipitation.Planets in the atmosphere Earth image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
  
  The atmosphere, a blanket of air surrounding Earth, is a nonliving part of the ecosystem that provides the living part of the ecosystem, such as organisms, with carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis and oxygen necessary for respiration. In addition, the atmosphere undergoes cycles of evaporation and precipitation of water that is necessary for living organisms on Earth.
  
  

Soil

• Soil itself houses an entire ecosystem.Crackled soil image by Trombax from Fotolia.com
  
  Soil on Earth's surface is an important part of the ecosystem. It contains particles of rocks, minerals and organic matter, and it provides living organisms with water and nutrients as well as a place to live. Soil is particularly important for plants, as their roots are embedded in the soil.
  
  

Sunlight

• Sunlight is the source for photosynthesis in plants.sunlight image by Akova from Fotolia.com
  
  Sunlight is a nonliving aspect of an ecosystem. Without sunlight, the earth would not heat and evaporation and transpiration into the atmosphere would not occur. In addition, plants need sunlight to perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis converts sunlight energy into chemical energy and stores it for later use.
  
  

Water

• Water is a necessity for living things and their cells.ocean image by Yulia Volodina from Fotolia.com
  
  Water makes up most of the tissues of living organisms and is necessary for an organism's survival. Cells in living things can not survive without water. All living organisms depend on the ecosystem to provide them with the necessary water.
  
  

Energy and Matter

• Energy from the sun helps drive the living ecosystem. The sun provides energy for plants to perform photosynthesis. In addition, organisms use radiant energy, also known as light energy, or fixed energy, the chemical energy in food sources, to convert to the necessary organic molecules needed for survival.
  
  

Temperature

• The range of temperature in which most organisms live is from 32 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, or zero to 50 degrees Celsius. Temperatures that drop below or above these temperatures can kill an organism. Temperature, therefore, is a key aspect to the nonliving part of the ecosystem.
  
  

Wind

• Wind disperses seeds for reproduction of plants.seeds image by Ingmarsan from Fotolia.com
  
  Wind affects the movement of clouds and rain over the Earth's surface, thereby affecting the amount of precipitation an area receives. In addition, wind creates currents in water sources, which in turn affects where the nutrients in the water column are distributed. Furthermore, wind disperses pollen and seeds needed for plant growth.