The use of structural exergy as an integral index of the ecosystem state

Structural exergy is calculated for the background region of the Southern Baikal pelagial (permanent station #1). The average annual values of structural exergy in this region in 1990-2002 fluctuated within the limits between 11.81.7 (1994) and 22.01.6 (2002) around their average (17.10.4). They do not demonstrate any tendency which points to the lack of negative changes in the planktonic community of Southern Baikal.