abiotilised

Abioticilised is a term used in ecology to describe a process and its outcomes in which an ecosystem shifts toward abiotic dominance, with living components becoming comparatively reduced in influence. It denotes a state or change where abiotic factors such as temperature, moisture, pH, salinity, and mineral availability increasingly govern structure and function, rather than interactions among organisms.

The concept is typically linked to disturbances or pressures that degrade biotic complexity. Potential drivers include soil erosion, pollution, salinization, extreme weather events, habitat fragmentation, and overexploitation of resources. Indicators of abioticilised systems may include reduced biodiversity, simplified food webs, lower primary or secondary production tied to harsh abiotic conditions, and a rise in abiotic controls on nutrient cycling and energy flow.

Consequences of abioticisation can include diminished ecosystem services, such as reduced productivity, instability under climate fluctuations, and a loss of resilience. Ecosystems may become more vulnerable to further stress if biotic interactions that previously buffered against environmental extremes are weakened or lost. Researchers may assess the degree of abioticisation using biodiversity metrics, changes in community composition, and the relative contribution of abiotic versus biotic drivers of ecosystem processes.

The term is used in some ecological discussions to describe a shift toward abiotic control, but it is not universally standardized. It often appears in niche or policy-oriented literature to frame degradation or restoration priorities, and is related conceptually to discussions of ecosystem degradation, desertification, and climate-change impacts.