"Abiotic" refers to non-living components of an ecosystem. These elements include factors such as sunlight, temperature, water, soil, and minerals. They play a crucial role in shaping the environment and influencing the living organisms, or biotic factors, that inhabit it. In ecosystems, abiotic factors determine the types of organisms that can thrive in a particular area. For example, climate affects plant growth, while soil composition influences the types of vegetation that can grow. Understanding abiotic factors is essential for studying ecology and environmental science.