What is an Abiotic Factor? — Reading Comprehension

In science, we study ecosystems, which are communities of living things and their environment. Every ecosystem has two main parts: biotic factors and abiotic factors.

Biotic factors are living things, like plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria. Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the environment. The word abiotic comes from “a-,” meaning “not,” and “biotic,” meaning “living.”

Abiotic factors include sunlight, water, air, temperature, soil, and rocks. Even though they are not alive, these factors are very important. Without sunlight, plants could not make food through photosynthesis. Without water, no living things could survive. Temperature affects where animals and plants can live.

For example, cacti grow well in deserts because the abiotic factors there are hot temperatures, little rainfall, and sandy soil. On the other hand, polar bears live in the Arctic, where abiotic factors include freezing temperatures, ice, and snow.

Abiotic factors and biotic factors work together to create balanced ecosystems. If one abiotic factor changes, it can affect all the living things. For instance, if rainfall decreases in a forest, many plants may die, which then impacts the animals that depend on them for food.
Understanding abiotic factors helps scientists protect ecosystems and predict how changes in the environment will affect life on Earth.

Fun Fact: The Dead Sea in the Middle East is so salty that almost no living things can survive there—an example of an extreme abiotic factor!

What does abiotic mean?

Which is an abiotic factor?

Why do cacti grow in deserts?

What abiotic factor affects plant food making?

Which is an abiotic factor in the Arctic?

What happens if rainfall decreases in a forest?

Why can’t most life survive in the Dead Sea?

What do scientists study abiotic factors for?