Monitoring Ecological Change

Introduction

The main aim of this chapter is to provide an introduction to what has become known as ‘state of the environment’ (SoE) reporting. Ecological monitoring is a requirement for such reporting. The two are inextricably linked. One objective of this chapter is, therefore, to assess and comment on the information being used to monitor for SoE reporting. Indices and indicators are, in particular, being incorporated into SoE reports. Examples of indicators and indices are included, some of which may yet to have a role in SoE reporting.

Terms and terminology: state, condition or what?

Several terms have been used when referring to the environment and environmental change. These terms include:

Environmental quality, soil quality, etc. are common terms in SoE reports. High quality implies something that is better than low quality. Smith (1987) has referred to ‘quality’ as ‘suitable for use’. Later, Johnson et al. (1997) suggested a definition of environmental quality as ‘a measure of the condition of an environment relative to the requirements of one or more species and/or human need or purpose’.

Integrity in the sense of ecological integrity is a measure of the extent to which an ecosystem has been affected by humans and human activity. Similarly, biological integrity is a condition reflecting the extent to which humans have altered the composition, structure and function of biological communities.

What about environmental health and ecosystem health? We sometimes hear about ‘economic health’. Such expressions are commonly used and are seemingly easy to understand.