abiotic factor

American  

[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter, abee-] / ˌeɪ baɪˈɒt ɪk ˈfæk tər, ˌæbi- /

noun

Ecology.

1. a nonliving condition or thing, as climate or habitat, that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it.

   Abiotic factors can determine which species of organisms will survive in a given environment.

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Usage

What is an abiotic factor? An abiotic factor is a part of an environment or ecosystem that isn’t alive.

Etymology

Origin of abiotic factor

First recorded in 1955–60