What are abiotic factors?

Abiotic factors refer to the non-living physical and chemical components of an environment that influence the living organisms within that ecosystem. This includes elements such as temperature, moisture, sunlight, soil composition, and atmospheric conditions. These factors play a critical role in shaping the environment and determining the types of organisms that can thrive in a particular habitat. For instance, certain plants and animals are adapted to specific temperature ranges or soil types, which would significantly affect their distribution and survival within an ecosystem. Understanding abiotic factors is essential for studying ecology, as they often interact with biotic factors—the living components of the environment—in complex ways.