What characterizes abiotic factors in an ecosystem?

Abiotic factors in an ecosystem are characterized as non-living physical and chemical elements. These include components such as sunlight, temperature, water, soil composition, and atmospheric gases, which are essential for sustaining life within that ecosystem. Unlike biotic factors that arise from living organisms and their interactions, abiotic factors serve as the foundational elements that influence where and how organisms thrive.

Understanding abiotic factors is crucial since they determine the types of organisms that can inhabit a particular environment, how they interact, and their overall health and survival. For example, the availability of water and the soil's nutrient content can severely impact plant growth, which in turn affects the entire food web within that ecosystem.