abiota

Abiota is a term used in ecology to denote the non-living, physical and chemical components of an environment that influence the distribution, behavior, and survival of living organisms. It is the complement to biota, which comprises the plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms of an area. In practice, abiota is often described as the abiotic environment or the abiotic factors that shape ecosystems.

Key abiotic components include climate variables such as temperature, light, and precipitation; atmospheric conditions; soil properties including texture, mineral content, and pH; hydrological factors like water availability and salinity; and energy sources such as sunlight or geothermal heat. Together, these factors create the physical context in which biological processes occur and interact with each other.

Abiota interacts with biota by providing resources and imposing constraints. Abiotic conditions influence species distributions, phenology, metabolic rates, and ecosystem productivity. They also affect nutrient cycles, soil formation, and water quality. Changes in abiotic factors, whether due to natural variability or human influence such as climate change, can drive ecological shifts, alter community composition, and modify ecosystem services.

In terminology, abiota is sometimes used synonymously with abiotic factors or the abiotic environment, though some sources prefer the latter terms. The concept remains central to ecology, environmental science, and earth system studies as researchers model how non-living components shape living systems.