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Studying coral health in St. Thomas. Ecosystem health is a metaphor used to describe the condition of an ecosystem. [1] [2] Ecosystem condition can vary as a result of fire, flooding, drought, extinctions, invasive species, climate change, mining, fishing, farming or logging, chemical spills, and a host of other reasons.
Health ecology (also known as eco-health) is an emerging field that studies the impact of ecosystems on human health. It examines alterations in the biological , physical , social , and economic environments to understand how these changes affect mental and physical human health.
For example, in amphibians, phthalates and BPA disrupt thyroid function, affecting larval development. Mollusks, crustaceans, and amphibians are generally more sensitive to these chemicals than fish, though disrupted spermatogenesis has been observed in fish at low concentrations.
An example of such an initiative is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment [32] whose objective is "to assess the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and the scientific basis for action needed to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of those systems and their contribution to human well-being".
Examples of biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, fungi, other microorganisms and their associated toxins. They may cause a myriad of diseases, from flu to more serious and potentially fatal diseases. [4] Psychological hazards are aspects of work and work environments that can cause psychological harm or mental ill-health.
The health of the overall population (and the size of the weakened population members) will also influence the way that parasites and diseases will transmit among members. [4] Additionally, competition and predation dynamics in the ecosystem can influence the density of potential hosts which can either propagate or limit the spread of diseases. [4]
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Healthy ecosystems provide important ecosystem services that can contribute to climate change adaptation. For example, healthy mangrove ecosystems provide protection from the impacts of climate change, often for some of the world's most vulnerable people, by absorbing wave energy and storm surges, adapting to rising sea levels, and stabilizing shorelines from erosion.