Biogeisiin

Biogeisiin is an interdisciplinary concept in ecology and earth science that describes the feedbacks between living systems and the Earth's geochemical environment. The term appears in some European academic discussions to refer to the dynamic coupling of biological processes with geological and chemical processes that shape landscapes and climate. Core ideas include the influence of organisms on biogeochemical cycles, such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica, and, conversely, how geochemical conditions—soil mineralogy, pH, redox state, and mineral weathering rates—shape microbial communities, plant productivity, and ecosystem structure.

Scope and approaches: Biogeisiin spans soils, freshwater, and marine systems, and scales from microbes to landscapes. Research typically combines field measurements of chemistry and mineralogy with molecular tools, isotopic tracers, and computational models to simulate feedbacks and predict responses to perturbations like climate change, land-use change, or nutrient loading.

History and status: The concept is not universally standardized and is used variably within the literature to emphasize biosphere–geosphere coupling beyond traditional biogeochemistry or ecosystem ecology. Some commentators argue that the term overlaps with established fields and may hinder precise communication.

Significance: Biogeisiin aims to improve understanding of biosphere–geosphere feedbacks and has relevance for soil formation, carbon cycling, and nutrient dynamics, with implications for land management and climate policy.

See also: Biogeochemistry, Biogeography, Ecosystem ecology, Geomicrobiology.