Analysis of methodological approaches to the evaluation of ecosystem sustainability

Abstract

Stability is a fundamental quality of natural ecosystems. Ecosystem stability is one of the most significant indicators of the state of the environment. It represents the ability of the ecosystem in general and its components to successfully withstand negative externalities while maintaining not only its structure but also its functions. It can be considered as the invariance of a particular state of the ecosystem, as well as the ability to transition to any other state at present (static stability) and continuity of ecosystem development (dynamic stability). The notion of s stability is closely related to the ability of an ecosystem to return to equilibrium after the termination of external influences that have brought it out of equilibrium and to the notion of stability. Stability does not always mean the ability to maintain an equilibrium ecosystem, although initially the phenomenon of stability was treated as such. It is well known that biological systems are characterized by a homeostasis and their stability is to maintain certain state parameters within a certain constant level. The principle in the transition from consideration of the technical system to the consideration of the ecosystem is that in the last deviation of the real development trajectories from the trajectory of the purpose occur by chance, and it is impossible to obtain accurate information about these deviations. And if the stability of a technical system can be asserted clearly by analyzing the differential equations that characterize the behavior of the system, then, for the most part, it is impossible to make the differential equations of ecosystem functioning. Therefore, conclusions about the stability or instability of an ecosystem can only be made with some probability. The article discusses methodological approaches to the determination of ecosystem stability. It is determined that today there is no agreed terminological unity on this issue. It is emphasized that the stability of ecosystems is largely determined by the level of development balance of its components – ecological subsystems. It has been found that in order to assess the status of ecosystems, it is necessary to select a stability indicator for evaluating.