Abstract
In developing different types of biological life support systems for use in space or extreme environments on Eart, researchers should pay attention to the long term health or functional state of such systems. The difficulty of the task is compounded by the complexity of the links and structure to be found in biological systems. To solve the problem, a hierarchical approach may be used to estimate and monitor the health of the system as a whole and its individual links. Three levels in a typical hierarchy have been considered: 1. a. the organismic. 2. b. populations and communities. 3. c. the ecosystem. Special attention has been given to the interactions between macro- and microorganisms. Microorganisms are considered the most suitable indicators of a system's health and its component links.
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