Ecological studies are influenced by two main types of factors. Which pair is correct?

• A. Biotic and abiotic factors
• B. Weather and climate
• C. Predators and prey
• D. Soil type and color

Answer: (A)

Ecological studies look at how living things and their non-living environment shape ecosystems. The key distinction is between biotic factors, which are living organisms and their interactions, and abiotic factors, which are non-living conditions like temperature, water, light, soil, and nutrients. This framing helps explain patterns in where species live, how populations change, and how ecosystems function. The other options either focus on specific living interactions (predators and prey) or on single abiotic aspects (weather/climate, soil type and color) rather than the broad living versus non-living categories. So the correct pairing is living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) factors.