Question

This picnic table was made from fallen trees in a local forest. Is this picnic table a biotic or abiotic factor? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

The picnic table is considered a biotic factor. Biotic factors are living components of an ecosystem, or they originate from living organisms. Since the picnic table is made from fallen trees, which are part of living organisms (wood comes from trees, which are living plants), it is categorized as biotic. In contrast, abiotic factors are non-living components, such as water, soil, rocks, and air. Therefore, because the picnic table is derived from the biological material of trees, it qualifies as a biotic factor in its ecological context.