Application of holistic thermodynamic indicators

The paper proposes to use eco-exergy, specific eco-exergy = eco-exergy/biomass and ecological buffer capacities as ecological indicators for ecosystem development and health. After definitions of these three concepts, it is shown that the attributes for ecosystem development proposed by von Bertalanffy and E.P. Odum and six descriptors of ecosystem health proposed by Costanza are covered by three types of ecosystem growth forms: growth of biomass, network and information. As it has been shown that eco-exergy increases with all three growth forms, eco-exergy seems a good candidate for a holistic indicator of ecosystem development and health. By supplementing eco-exergy with specific eco-exergy and buffer capacity, we obtain also direct indication of the level of information, respectively, the resistance of the ecosystem to perturbations.