The surroundings of the Earth are made up of both living and nonliving things. These are part of what we call the environment. Living Things (Biotic Factors)These are things that are alive or were once alive. Examples include:•Humans•Animals (dogs, birds, fish, etc.)•Plants (trees, flowers, grass)•Insects (ants, bees, butterflies)•Fungi (mushrooms, molds)•Bacteria and other microorganisms Nonliving Things (Abiotic Factors)These are things that are not alive and have never been alive. Examples include:•Air (oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen)•Water (rivers, oceans, rain)•Sunlight•Soil•Rocks and minerals•Temperature•Climate•Mountains