Which of the following is an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

• A. A living organism
• B. A non-living factor such as temperature, water, light, or soil
• C. A seasonal change
• D. A predatory species

Answer: (B)

An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that helps shape where organisms live and how they survive. The best example here is a non-living factor such as temperature, water, light, or soil. These don’t have life processes themselves, but they influence survival, growth, and how organisms interact with their environment.

A living organism is a biotic factor because it is alive. A predatory species is also biotic for the same reason—it’s a living organism. A seasonal change describes how conditions vary over time and can influence many factors, but it isn’t itself a single non-living component of the environment; it’s a pattern that affects multiple abiotic and biotic factors. So the non-living factor listed is the clear representation of an abiotic factor.