abiootilises

Abiootilises is a neologism used in some theoretical discussions of ecology and planetary science to describe a focus on abiotic determinants in the analysis of ecological or planetary systems. In this usage, abiotic factors such as climate, soil chemistry, hydrology, radiation, and geomorphology are treated as primary drivers of system structure and function, while biotic interactions are considered secondary or emergent.

Etymology and scope: The term combines a Dutch-derived root meaning abiotic with a suffix that suggests analysis or emphasis. It is not widely standardized and appears primarily in speculative or modelling contexts rather than as a formal, widely adopted framework.

Definition and variants: Abiootilises can refer to (a) a methodological orientation that abstracts biological complexity to study physical constraints, or (b) modelling approaches that simulate ecosystems or planetary environments using abiotic templates or parameters as the main drivers. Different scholars may emphasize different emphases on abstraction, scale, or feedbacks.

Methods and applications: In practice, abiootilises-inspired work often employs abiotic-first modelling, sensitivity analyses that vary only abiotic parameters, and geochemical or climate-centric simulations. Applications appear in exoplanet habitability studies, Earth system science baselines, and retrospective analyses of environments where abiotic processes dominate over biological activity.

Criticism: Critics warn that such an approach can oversimplify real systems by downplaying the importance and complexity of biotic–abiotic feedbacks, niche dynamics, and emergent properties that arise from living communities.

See also: abiotic, abiotic factor, ecological modelling, exoplanet habitability.