Which term is used to describe characteristics pertaining to living organisms?

The term that describes characteristics pertaining to living organisms is "biotic." This term is utilized in ecological studies and environmental science to refer specifically to the living components of an ecosystem, including organisms such as plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Biotic factors are essential to understanding how these organisms interact with each other and their environments, influencing aspects such as biodiversity and ecosystem health.

In contrast, terms like biophysical, biochemical, and biological encompass broader or more specific contexts. "Biophysical" pertains more to the physical principles underlying biological processes, "biochemical" relates to the chemical processes within and related to living organisms, and "biological" serves as a general term that can refer to both living organisms and their life processes but doesn't specifically denote interactions within ecosystems. Therefore, "biotic" is the most precise term among those listed for describing characteristics that pertain directly to living organisms.