minerotrophic

Minerotrophic is an adjective describing organisms, habitats, or ecosystems that obtain nutrients primarily from dissolved minerals derived from geological sources rather than from organic matter. The term derives from Latin minera, meaning mineral, and trophe, meaning nourishment.

In peatland ecology, minerotrophic refers to habitats that receive mineral-rich water from groundwater or surface inflows, resulting in higher pH and greater nutrient availability compared with ombrotrophic systems. Minerotrophic peatlands, often called fens, support more diverse plant communities, including grasses, sedges, rushes, and certain bryophytes; they typically exhibit neutral to alkaline conditions and elevated levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and ammonium.

In other hydrological contexts, minerotrophic waters contain higher dissolved solids and are less acidic than ombrotrophic waters, reflecting inputs from mineral-bearing rocks. The contrast with ombrotrophic (precipitation-fed, nutrient-poor, acidic) is a common framework for classifying peatlands and freshwater ecosystems. The term is also used in soil science to describe soils that receive nutrients primarily from mineral sources rather than from organic matter or atmospheric deposition.