Question

Distinguish between abiotic and biotic resources.

Answer 1

Abiotic and biotic resources can be distinguished as follows:

1. Abiotic Resources:

   • These are non-living resources.
   • Examples include air, water, land or soil, rocks, minerals, sunlight, mountains, etc.
   • They can be used directly or indirectly e.g., land for housing, rocks for construction and minerals for industrial use.
   • Abiotic resources can be renewable or non-renewable. Non-renewable abiotic resources like fossil fuels and minerals are exhaustible as they take millions of years to form.
   • Abiotic resources are naturally occurring inorganic substances and elements of the Earth’s crust or environment.

2. Biotic Resources:

   • These are resources obtained from living organisms.
   • Examples include plants, animals, birds, forests, fisheries and human beings human resource.
   • They are renewable because they can multiply and are naturally renewed by reproduction.
   • Biotic resources are living components of an ecosystem which also lead to economic activities such as forestry, agriculture, livestock raising and fisheries.
   • Human intelligence and activity transform natural biotic resources into usable products.