Abiottisten

Abiottisten is a term used in ecologic discourse to categorize a subset of influences arising from non-living components of the environment that shape the biology and ecology of organisms. While closely related to the broader concept of abiotic factors, abiottisten emphasizes the processual and sometimes indirect effects of non-living conditions on life. The term is derived from the Finnish adjective abiotinen (abiotic) with the suffix -sten forming a plural or collective noun in some usage traditions.

In practice, abiottisten include climatic variables such as temperature and precipitation, soil properties such as pH, salinity and mineral availability, radiation levels, and hydrological conditions. They interact with organisms at multiple levels, from cellular stress responses in plants to microbial community dynamics in soils, and can act as selective pressures or constraints on growth, reproduction, and distribution.

Research on abiottisten examines how abrupt or gradual changes in abiotic conditions influence ecosystems, including resilience and tipping points. It often intersects with fields like physiology, soil science and climate science. Critics note that the term overlaps with established language for abiotic factors and stress, and its usefulness depends on clear definitions and consistent usage across studies.

See also: abiotic factor, abiotic stress, environmental constraint.