ombrotrofe

Ombrotrofe is a term used in ecology and botany to describe organisms or ecosystems that obtain the majority of their nutrients from atmospheric deposition, particularly rainfall. In English, the more common form of this concept is ombrotrophic, derived from the Greek roots ombro- (rain) and troph- (nourishment). Ombrotrofe is a variant form found in some Romance-language sources, but the underlying idea remains the same: nutrient input comes mainly from the atmosphere rather than mineral-rich groundwater.

Ombrotrophic habitats are most prominent in peatlands known as bogs. In these environments, vegetation such as Sphagnum mosses grows in acidic, nutrient-poor waters, with inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus delivered primarily by rain, fog, or atmospheric dust. This contrasts with minerotrophic (or mineral-nutrient–fed) systems like fens, where nutrients enter mainly from groundwater or surface runoff.

The nutrient source shapes community composition, productivity, and soil development. Ombrotrophic peatlands tend to be highly acidic, accumulate peat over long timescales, and play a significant role in carbon sequestration. The trophic status also influences plant adaptations and resilience to changes in atmospheric deposition or drought.

Researchers identify ombrotrophic systems by examining nutrient concentrations in plant tissues and porewater and by noting the limited or absent influx of mineral groundwater. Anthropogenic factors, such as air pollution and historical acid rain, have altered pH and nutrient balance in these ecosystems, with consequences for species composition and peat formation.

See also: minerotrophic, peatland, bog, Sphagnum.