Biotic and Abiotic Factors — Reading Comprehension

An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that affects living organisms. The term "abiotic" comes from the prefix "a-" meaning "without" and "biotic" meaning "life." These factors can be physical, like temperature and sunlight, or chemical, like soil nutrients and water. They are essential for an ecosystem to function, as all living things depend on them for survival, growth, and reproduction. For example, a plant needs sunlight and water (abiotic factors) to grow. A fish needs a certain water temperature and pH level to thrive. The availability of these non-living factors determines what kinds of plants and animals can live in a particular environment.

Have you ever thought about all the things in our world that are not alive? The air you breathe, the water you drink, and the sunlight that warms your face are all around us, but they aren't living things. In science, we call these non-living parts of an ecosystem abiotic factors. The word "abiotic" is a great clue to its meaning! The first part, "a-," means "not" or "without." The second part, "biotic," means "living." So, together, "abiotic" means "not living."

Abiotic factors are super important because they affect all the living things, or biotic factors, in an ecosystem. Think about a forest. The trees, animals, and insects are all biotic factors. But what about the things they need to survive? They need sunlight to grow, water to drink, and soil to hold their roots. Sunlight, water, and soil are all abiotic factors. Without these non-living parts, the living things wouldn't be able to live!

Different places have different abiotic factors. For example, a desert has very little water and very hot temperatures during the day. This is why you see special plants like cacti that can store water and animals that are active at night. In a pond, the water is a huge abiotic factor, and it affects which fish and plants can live there. Other important abiotic factors include the amount of rain, the type of soil, and the temperature of the air.

A fun fact about abiotic factors is that they can change! For instance, a long drought means less water, which is a big change for all the plants and animals that live there. They have to adapt, or find a way to deal with the changes, just like desert plants have adapted to their dry environment. The next time you're outside, look around and see if you can spot some abiotic factors!

What does the word "abiotic" mean?

Which of the following is an example of a biotic factor?

A fish needs a clean lake to live. Which abiotic factor is most important for the fish?

A cactus has thick stems to store water. What abiotic factor is the cactus adapted to?

A polar bear has thick fur to stay warm. What abiotic factor is the bear adapted to?

A scientist is studying a plant. She puts it in a room with no light. Why might the plant not grow?

Imagine you live in a very hot place. What could you do to stay cool?

A farmer plants a garden. He checks the soil to make sure it has enough nutrients. Why is this important?