Ecological health
Ecosystem health or ecosystem health (also in German-speaking usual), even ecological integrity describes a theoretical concept of socio-ecological research on the functioning of ecosystems.
Concept
The definition of the concept of ecosystem health is not yet conclusively determined uniformly at the current state of the theoretical discussion. With the open definition of the term raises the question of what specific indicators has a " healthy ecosystem ". The concept of ecosystem health is currently mostly used in different contexts with respect to the functional and economic aspects of ecosystems and almost applied only to systems that are used by humans: cultural landscapes, used seas, lakes, freshwater systems.
The concept evolved from the idea of the integrity of ecosystems. As one of the first scientists in the fisheries biologist James Karr used for the evaluation liminischer systems in the U.S. the term " biotic integrity" According to a definition of yuan of 1991, a Assesement sets the on ecosystem health aims of first biophysical, ecological and 2 3. socio-economic factors.
Implicit factors of the concept are usually the carrying capacity of an ecosystem, the potential of possible ecosystem services and other cumulative factors ( air quality, soil fertility, etc.).
The term " health " ( "health " ) intends that ecosystems can be "healthy", as well as the human body can be healthy. Thus, the concept includes heavily on the Gaia theory from the 1970s. The Gaia hypothesis is a system- theoretical understanding of life is based. A living being is thus an open and entropy - producing system, which can be reactive and self-organizing to adapt to its environment. The Gaia hypothesis views the Earth as a complex, interwoven into each other life support system, a kind of quasi " Superoganismus ".
Conversely, it is assumed that a "healthy " ecosystem after disturbance can (mostly due to anthropogenic influences) to return to the initial state. This is then referred to as resilience.
Synonymous terms
To some extent, ( = ecological integrity integrity ) and environmental condition used interchangeably in the assessment of ecosystem health Ökosystenen in German-speaking with the terms ecosystem integrity. This beruheren on similar theoretical Lord leads and are also not conclusively defined.
Application
So far, the term ecosystem health is most often used as an umbrella term for assets or specific measures in which a more sustainable use of ecosystems is sought. In German-speaking countries was often spoken of " healthy lakes " or " healthy rivers and streams ." In this limited habitats, the approach can be applied well. Especially the lake ecosystem can by interrupting or influencing the processes of circulation or 02/Temperatur-Verhältnisses change its state ( Shift system ). Lakes considered " healthy " when the spatio-temporal processes run in a way that positively impact on biodiversity in the lake and its water quality ( drinking water).
The Helsinki Convention in 2010 published a strategy entitled Ecosystem Health of the Baltic Sea, which describes the development of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea in front of a strong holistic approach.
In the U.S., the State Nature Protection Agency uses the term for the assessment of ecological systems since the early 1980s.
Criticism and limits of the concept
The qualitative assessment of natural systems always relates to subjective, human value judgments. Based on these judgments Ökosyesteme be of " good = natural = healthy " to " bad = demoted = ill" assessed and classified. Which state in the real environment of the respective actors as "good" and therefore considered the desirability depends strongly on the respective values of the actors. Critically, the transfer of the health of the human organism is seen on the " organism of nature / environment " because he largely ignored evolutionary and population biology sizes.
The concept of ecosystem health different value systems ( functional- economic approach, cultural and spiritual approach) connected without reflection. But are always the central functions of ecosystems, which are crucial to obtain for the people: therefore CO2 storage, natural water cycles, pollination, soil regeneration, game and fish resources protection. This ecosystem health has a clear anthropozentristischen background and aims primarily to resource management and less on the protection of biological diversity as " value in itself " from.