What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors?

Biotic factors refer to all the living components in an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. These living organisms interact with each other and their environments, creating complex relationships within ecosystems. For example, plants provide food and oxygen for animals, while animals contribute to the dispersal of seeds and pollination, demonstrating the interconnectedness of life within an ecosystem.

Abiotic factors, on the other hand, are the non-living physical and chemical elements that influence the environment and the organisms within it. These factors include sunlight, temperature, water, soil, and nutrients. They play a critical role in shaping ecosystems, as they affect the survival, growth, and reproduction of organisms.

Understanding the distinction between biotic and abiotic factors is fundamental in biology, as it helps to analyze ecosystems and the interactions between living organisms and their environment.