Ecology and Ecosystem Services

Genetic diversity

The variety of genes within a species or population.

Population bottleneck

When a population suddenly becomes much smaller, reducing its genetic diversity.

Species diversity

The variety of different species in an area.

Habitat diversity

The variety of habitats found in an area.

Specialists

Organisms that need a specific habitat, food, or set of conditions to survive.

Generalists

Organisms that can live in many environments and eat many types of food.

Ecosystem diversity

The variety of different ecosystems in an area.

Species richness

The number of different species in an area.

Species evenness

How evenly individuals are distributed among the different species in an area.

Ecosystem services

Benefits that humans get from ecosystems.

Provisioning services

Products that ecosystems provide, such as food, water, and wood.

Regulating services

Natural processes that help control environmental conditions, such as climate regulation and flood control.

Supporting services

Natural processes that support other ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling and soil formation.

Cultural services

Non-material benefits people get from nature, such as recreation, tourism, and spiritual value.

Aquaculture

The farming of aquatic organisms, such as fish, shellfish, and seaweed.