Shifting baseline syndrome

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In science, observers of a natural system at one point in time may feel that the system exhibits a "good" level of functioning and features. If the system is actually in decline over a long period of time, observers of the system at a much earlier point in time recall much more functioning and feature of the system. The baseline of what is considered normal for the system is said to have shifted.

As an example, current observers of coral reefs express how beautiful and seemingly healthy a reef is. However, observers of the same location from 20, 40 or 60 years ago, indicate a much richer life system. In effect, the "baseline" observation at the present, has shifted from previous times.

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