IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecomod/v482y2023ics0304380023001321.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Measuring natural capital value and ecological complexity of lake ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Grande, U.
  • Piernik, A.
  • Nienartowicz, A.
  • Buonocore, E.
  • Franzese, P.P.

Abstract

Healthy ecosystems are capable of maintaining their structures and functions, ensuring the generation and maintenance of natural capital stocks delivering ecosystem services flows vital for human well-being. The development of ecosystems can be investigated by using different ecological goal functions. Among them, emergy and eco-exergy can be used to unfold the role of matter and energy flow exchanges in the functioning of ecological systems. In this paper, the emergy and eco-exergy accounting methods were integrated to investigate three forest lake ecosystems characterized by a different trophism (oligotrophic, mesotrophic, and eutrophic) and located in the Tuchola Forest UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve (Northern Poland). In particular, emergy was used to account for the work of nature invested to generate natural capital stocks, while eco-exergy was used to characterize the development stage of lake ecosystems reflecting their trophic and health state. The eutrophic lake showed the highest emergy investment (4.36∙1012 sej m−2) for the generation of natural capital stocks, mainly due to the high convergence of nutrient flows. The eutrophic lake also showed the highest value of eco-exergy density (1.38∙106 KJ m−2) mainly due to the high ß value of macrophyte and aquatic birds. Finally, the eco-exergy / emergy ratio was calculated to assess the efficiency of the three lake ecosystems. The mesotrophic lake showed the highest value of the ratio (1.43∙10−3 J sej-1), highlighting a better efficiency in maintaining and developing ecosystem structure and organization. Overall, the outcomes of this study were consistent with the different trophism of the investigated lakes, confirming how external driving forces can orient the development and complexity of lake ecosystems. In conclusion, integrated assessments adopting an ecosystem and holistic perspective can result in a promising approach to investigate lake ecosystems worldwide, providing useful scientific information to policy makers committed to ensure the sustainable management of surface water ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Grande, U. & Piernik, A. & Nienartowicz, A. & Buonocore, E. & Franzese, P.P., 2023. "Measuring natural capital value and ecological complexity of lake ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 482(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:482:y:2023:i:c:s0304380023001321
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110401
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380023001321
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110401?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sciubba, Enrico & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2005. "Emergy and exergy analyses: Complementary methods or irreducible ideological options?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(10), pages 1953-1988.
    2. Amaral, Luís P. & Martins, Nélson & Gouveia, Joaquim B., 2016. "A review of emergy theory, its application and latest developments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 882-888.
    3. Picone, F. & Buonocore, E. & D’Agostaro, R. & Donati, S. & Chemello, R. & Franzese, P.P., 2017. "Integrating natural capital assessment and marine spatial planning: A case study in the Mediterranean sea," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 361(C), pages 1-13.
    4. Brown, Mark T. & Campbell, Daniel E. & De Vilbiss, Christopher & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2016. "The geobiosphere emergy baseline: A synthesis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 339(C), pages 92-95.
    5. Brown, Mark T. & Ulgiati, Sergio, 2010. "Updated evaluation of exergy and emergy driving the geobiosphere: A review and refinement of the emergy baseline," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(20), pages 2501-2508.
    6. Vihervaara, Petteri & Franzese, Pier Paolo & Buonocore, Elvira, 2019. "Information, energy, and eco-exergy as indicators of ecosystem complexity," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 395(C), pages 23-27.
    7. Buonocore, Elvira & Picone, Flavio & Donnarumma, Luigia & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2019. "Modeling matter and energy flows in marine ecosystems using emergy and eco-exergy methods to account for natural capital value," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 392(C), pages 137-146.
    8. Pan, Xing-xia & He, Yi-qing, 2011. "Emergy Analysis of Agro-ecosystem in Poyang Lake Area," Asian Agricultural Research, USA-China Science and Culture Media Corporation, vol. 3(08), pages 1-5, August.
    9. Bastianoni, S. & Facchini, A. & Susani, L. & Tiezzi, E., 2007. "Emergy as a function of exergy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(7), pages 1158-1162.
    10. Buonocore, Elvira & Donnarumma, Luigia & Appolloni, Luca & Miccio, Antonino & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2020. "Marine natural capital and ecosystem services: An environmental accounting model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 424(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bo Chen & Meiqi Zhang & Rui Yang & Wenling Tang, 2023. "Spatiotemporal Variations in the Carbon Sequestration Capacity of Plateau Lake Wetlands Regulated by Land Use Control under Policy Guidance," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mattei, F. & Buonocore, E. & Franzese, P.P. & Scardi, M., 2021. "Global assessment of marine phytoplankton primary production: Integrating machine learning and environmental accounting models," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 451(C).
    2. Buonocore, Elvira & Appolloni, Luca & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2020. "Assessing natural capital value in marine ecosystems through an environmental accounting model: A case study in Southern Italy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 419(C).
    3. Buonocore, Elvira & Donnarumma, Luigia & Appolloni, Luca & Miccio, Antonino & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2020. "Marine natural capital and ecosystem services: An environmental accounting model," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 424(C).
    4. Chiara Paoli & Paolo Povero & Ilaria Rigo & Giulia Dapueto & Rachele Bordoni & Paolo Vassallo, 2022. "Two Sides of the Same Coin: A Theoretical Framework for Strong Sustainability in Marine Protected Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    5. Qingsong Wang & Hongkun Xiao & Qiao Ma & Xueliang Yuan & Jian Zuo & Jian Zhang & Shuguang Wang & Mansen Wang, 2020. "Review of Emergy Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment: Coupling Development Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Jiang, M.M. & Chen, B., 2011. "Integrated urban ecosystem evaluation and modeling based on embodied cosmic exergy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(13), pages 2149-2165.
    7. Chen, Wei & Liu, Wenjing & Geng, Yong & Brown, Mark T. & Gao, Cuixia & Wu, Rui, 2017. "Recent progress on emergy research: A bibliometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1051-1060.
    8. Buonocore, Elvira & Picone, Flavio & Donnarumma, Luigia & Russo, Giovanni F. & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2019. "Modeling matter and energy flows in marine ecosystems using emergy and eco-exergy methods to account for natural capital value," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 392(C), pages 137-146.
    9. Eyni-Nargeseh, Hamed & Asgharipour, Mohammad Reza & Rahimi-Moghaddam, Sajjad & Gilani, Abdolali & Damghani, Abdolmajid Mahdavi & Azizi, Khosro, 2023. "Which rice farming system is more environmentally friendly in Khuzestan province, Iran? A study based on emergy analysis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 481(C).
    10. Chen, Yuhong & Lyu, Yanfeng & Yang, Xiangdong & Zhang, Xiaohong & Pan, Hengyu & Wu, Jun & Lei, Yongjia & Zhang, Yanzong & Wang, Guiyin & Xu, Min & Luo, Hongbin, 2022. "Performance comparison of urea production using one set of integrated indicators considering energy use, economic cost and emissions’ impacts: A case from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PC).
    11. Paolo Vassallo & Claudia Turcato & Ilaria Rigo & Claudia Scopesi & Andrea Costa & Matteo Barcella & Giulia Dapueto & Mauro Mariotti & Chiara Paoli, 2021. "Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    12. Zhuang, Minghao & Liu, Yize & Yang, Yi & Zhang, Qingsong & Ying, Hao & Yin, Yulong & Cui, Zhenling, 2022. "The sustainability of staple crops in China can be substantially improved through localized strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. Kocjančič, Tina & Debeljak, Marko & Žgajnar, Jaka & Juvančič, Luka, 2018. "Incorporation of emergy into multiple-criteria decision analysis for sustainable and resilient structure of dairy farms in Slovenia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 71-83.
    14. Zhang, Xiao Hong & Deng, ShiHuai & Jiang, WenJu & Zhang, YanZong & Peng, Hong & Li, Li & Yang, Gang & Li, YuanWei, 2010. "Emergy evaluation of the sustainability of two industrial systems based on wastes exchanges," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 182-195.
    15. Ting Chang & Degang Yang & Jinwei Huo & Fuqiang Xia & Zhiping Zhang, 2018. "Evaluation of Oasis Sustainability Based on Emergy and Decomposition Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-14, June.
    16. Bonilla, Silvia H. & Papalardo, Fábio & Tassinari, Celso A. & Sacomano, Jose B. & de Carvalho, Fabio Romeu, 2019. "Contribution of the Paraconsistent Tri-Annotated Logic to emergy accounting and decision making," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 393(C), pages 98-106.
    17. Xiumei Xu & Chao Feng & Yongshan Du & Qimeng Wang & Gaige Zhang & Yicheng Huang, 2022. "Evaluating the sustainability of a tourism system based on emergy accounting and emergetic ternary diagrams: a case study of the Xinjiang Kanas tourism area," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6731-6787, May.
    18. Cristiano, S. & Ulgiati, S. & Gonella, F., 2021. "Systemic sustainability and resilience assessment of health systems, addressing global societal priorities: Learnings from a top nonprofit hospital in a bioclimatic building in Africa," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).
    19. Deymi-Dashtebayaz, Mahdi & Norani, Marziye, 2021. "Sustainability assessment and emergy analysis of employing the CCHP system under two different scenarios in a data center," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    20. Ulgiati, Sergio & Zucaro, Amalia & Franzese, Pier Paolo, 2011. "Shared wealth or nobody's land? The worth of natural capital and ecosystem services," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(4), pages 778-787, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:482:y:2023:i:c:s0304380023001321. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/ecological-modelling .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.