What term describes the non-living components that affect ecosystems?

The term that describes the non-living components affecting ecosystems is "abiotic factors." These factors include elements such as temperature, sunlight, water, soil, and air, which play crucial roles in shaping the environment and influencing the living organisms (biotic factors) within an ecosystem. Abiotic factors determine the types of organisms that can live in a particular habitat, their behavior, and interactions with each other. For instance, the availability of sunlight can affect photosynthesis rates in plants, which in turn impacts the entire food web.

In contrast to abiotic factors, biotic factors refer to the living components of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, and microorganisms, which interact with each other and their environment. Living organisms are a more focused term that generally does not encompass the broader interactions that include non-living factors. Environmental conditions could refer to a variety of elements, including both biotic and abiotic features, but it does not specifically capture the essence of non-living factors as effectively as the term "abiotic."