2. Degradation of lake environments: causes and effects

Each ecosystem has a greater or lesser capacity to withstand anthropogenic pressure (resistance potential or carrying capacity), a capacity to recover previous quality after anthropogenic pressure has been removed (resilience capacity), or a capacity to recreate an apparently stable environment under continuing anthropogenic pressure (adaptive capacity). At present, most ecosystems are stressed beyond their ecological capacity, which means that they exceed their natural limits to absorb disturbances and maintain their ecological functions and, beyond that, human uses.