Ecosystem Relations: Abiotic and Biotic Relationships

What is an Abiotic Factor?

An abiotic factor is a non living thing, something that never lived in the first place, such as the soil, or the water.

What is a Biotic Factor?

A biotic factor is a living animal, plant, bacteria, bug, anything that is or ever has been alive. Such as, owls, trees, ants, bacteria.

How do the two Pertain to Each other?

Biotic and abiotic factors go hand in hand. Where you find one, you are likely to find the other. When combined, the two make up an ecosystem, or community of different species of animals living in a certain area. Abiotic plays the role of the foundation for the biotic factors, a place to interact if you will, factors such as sunlight, moisture, and water are all necessary for the survival of the biotic factors. Biotic factors, are the living part of the ecosystem that can be found inside of the abiotic areas, they are responsible for the cycling of energy and nutrients around the ecosystem. Without one, you cannot have the other, they always go hand in hand.