The influence of soil on organisms in a habitat is referred to as

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term used for the influence of soil on living organisms in a habitat. It is about the types of ecological (environmental) factors.

Step 2: Explain the concept Ecological factors are grouped as follows:

• Edaphic factors: These come from the soil, such as soil pH, texture, water content, mineral salts, and humus. The word comes from the Greek edaphos, meaning "soil" or "ground."
• Physiographic (topographic) factors: These come from the land's features, such as slope, altitude, and the direction a slope faces.
• Biotic factors: These come from living things, including competition, predation, and symbiosis.
• Climatic factors: These include rainfall, temperature, humidity, light, and wind.

Step 3: Work through the options

• A. Edaphic: This refers to soil influences, so it matches the question.
• B. Physiographic: This refers to the features of the land surface, not soil.
• C. Biotic: This refers to the effects of living organisms on one another.
• D. Topographic: This refers to relief, meaning hills, valleys, and slopes.

Step 4: Answer The influence of soil on organisms in a habitat is called edaphic, which is option A.

Tip: Link Edaphic with Earth, since both start with "E" and both are about soil. Also remember "Biotic = biological life" and "Topographic = topography (land shape)."