Which term describes the nonliving components of an ecosystem?

• A. Abiotic Factors
• B. Biotic Factors
• C. Niche
• D. Community

Answer: (A)

Abiotic factors are the nonliving parts of an ecosystem that influence which organisms can live there and how they survive. These include elements like sunlight, temperature, water, soil minerals, humidity, and wind. They shape the environment by affecting processes such as photosynthesis, metabolism, and nutrient availability. In contrast, biotic factors are living or once-living components, a community is all the populations of organisms in an area, and a niche is each species’ role within that environment. Because the question is about the nonliving components, the correct term is abiotic factors.