Abstract
Health, it is argued, implies that a system has an optimum state that can be defended. For organisms and populations this can be understood objectively and generally in terms of neo-Darwinian principles. Similar reasoning cannot be applied to ecosystems. The possible advantages and difficulties of applying this concept of health to ecosystems are critically considered.
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Calow, P. Can ecosystems be healthy? Critical consideration of concepts. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 1, 1–5 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044403
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044403