Abiotic factors are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems. They shape the environment and can impact the growth, reproduction, and maintenance of an ecosystem. Abiotic factors can be grouped into the following main categories:
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Atmospheric conditions: This includes factors such as air, weather, and climate.
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Water resources: This includes factors such as water availability, salinity, and water flow rate.
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Temperature: This includes factors such as air temperature, water temperature, and soil temperature.
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Light: This includes factors such as sunlight and other forms of radiation.
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Soil: This includes factors such as soil pH, type of soil, and nutrient availability.
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Minerals: This includes factors such as the availability of minerals in the soil.
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Other factors: This includes factors such as pressure, sound waves, and tides in marine or sub-terrestrial environments.
Abiotic factors can affect a plethora of species in all forms of environmental conditions, such as marine or land animals. They work together with biotic factors, which are living components of an ecosystem, to create a unique ecosystem.
