Which statement correctly distinguishes abiotic and biotic factors?

Which statement correctly distinguishes abiotic and biotic factors?

• A. Abiotic factors are living components; biotic are non-living
• B. Biotic factors are non-living; abiotic are living
• C. Abiotic factors are non-living; biotic are living
• D. Abiotic and biotic are both non-living

Answer: (C)

Distinguishing living from non-living parts of an environment. Abiotic factors are the non-living components—temperature, sunlight, rainfall, water, minerals in soil, pH, and other physical or chemical conditions. Biotic factors are the living components—plants, animals, bacteria, fungi—and the interactions among them. The statement that abiotic factors are non-living and biotic factors are living captures this distinction exactly, which is why it is the best choice. The other options mix up the roles or claim that both parts are non-living, which doesn’t reflect how ecosystems are composed of both living organisms and the non-living environment that supports them.

Distinguishing living from non-living parts of an environment. Abiotic factors are the non-living components—temperature, sunlight, rainfall, water, minerals in soil, pH, and other physical or chemical conditions. Biotic factors are the living components—plants, animals, bacteria, fungi—and the interactions among them. The statement that abiotic factors are non-living and biotic factors are living captures this distinction exactly, which is why it is the best choice. The other options mix up the roles or claim that both parts are non-living, which doesn’t reflect how ecosystems are composed of both living organisms and the non-living environment that supports them.