Which term describes a nonliving factor in an ecosystem?

The term that describes a nonliving factor in an ecosystem is "abiotic." Abiotic factors include elements that are not derived from living organisms but are essential for the survival and functioning of ecosystems. These can encompass a wide range of components, such as sunlight, temperature, water, soil minerals, and atmospheric gases. Each of these factors plays a crucial role in shaping the environment, influencing the types of organisms that can thrive in a particular ecosystem and how they interact with one another.

In contrast, biotic factors refer to the living components of an ecosystem, which include plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. The terms 'mutualistic' and 'symbiotic' relate specifically to interactions between living organisms, where mutualism describes interactions that benefit both parties, and symbiosis encompasses a variety of close biological interactions, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Thus, placing "abiotic" in the context of ecological factors consistently highlights its role as the nonliving aspect, essential for understanding the dynamics of ecosystems.