What does the term "biotic" mean?

The term "biotic" is used to describe anything that pertains to living organisms. This includes not only the organisms themselves—such as plants, animals, and microorganisms—but also the interactions among these organisms and their environment. Biotic factors play a crucial role in ecosystems, influencing the behavior, population dynamics, and community structure of different species.

In contrast, the other terms provided refer to non-living components or processes. For instance, non-living components would be categorized under abiotic factors, while chemical processes are typically associated with various abiotic interactions within ecosystems. Artificial environments may involve both biotic and abiotic factors, but the use of "biotic" explicitly points to living elements. Understanding this distinction is essential in the study of ecology and water quality, as the health of aquatic ecosystems is influenced both by biotic and abiotic factors.