Nonliving parts of an environment are called ______.

• A. Cones
• B. Abiotic factor
• C. Habitat
• D. Biotic factor

Answer: (B)

Nonliving parts of an environment are called abiotic factors. Abiotic means not alive, distinguishing these physical and chemical components from living organisms. Examples include sunlight, temperature, rainfall or water availability, soil minerals, pH, and wind. These factors influence which organisms can survive in a given place and affect processes like photosynthesis and nutrient cycling. In contrast, biotic factors are the living parts of the environment, such as plants, animals, fungi, and microbes. A habitat is the overall place an organism lives, and it includes both abiotic and biotic components, not just the nonliving aspects. So the correct term for the nonliving parts is abiotic factors.