Are all non-living things abiotic? We are trying
to figure out if abiotic factors are things that
are only naturally occurring, or if they can be
man-made? For example, if there is plastic
(trash/pollution) in an ecosystem, is it
considered an abiotic factor because it could have
a impact on the living things?
Question Date: 2017-10-16
Answer 1:
Abiotic means something that does not
contain biological material or living things .
A chemical like salt is abiotic. Plastic is
abiotic because it is not living. Abiotic
things can and do impact living things.
Sunlight is abiotic but as you know it has a large
impact on living things. Another example is, as
you mentioned, the chemicals in the air from
pollution that can impact living things.
