GEOG 2 - Ways to study biodiversity

What are provisioning/direct services?

Products we get directly from the natural world and ecosystems

Examples of provisioning/direct services?

• Morphine is derived from the opium poppy

• Aspirin is derived from the bark and leaves of willow trees

• Fruits, vegetables, livestock, and seafood we consume

• Drinking water from natural sources

• Wood/Timber for fuel and building

• Animals/plants we then genetically modify/selective breeding to increase their value to us, such as for disease resistance or higher yields of milk or meat

What are regulating services/indirect services?

Natural ecosystem processes that moderate hazards and sustain natural or cultivated ecological communities

examples of regulating/indirect services?

• Natural coastal barriers including dunes, dune vegetation, coral reefs, salt marshes

• Trees absorbing carbon dioxide through their stomata

• Natural strom surge protection including mangroves and wetlands

• Bees, birds, and wind naturally pollinate by moving pollen from flower to flower

• Natural predator/prey cycles that control pests

  • Spiders consume flies, mosquitos, cockroaches

  • Venus flytraps consume ants, beetles, and other small bugs

  • Birds eating caterpillars and larvae

• Natural waste decomposition of organic matter into soil

What are cultural/aesthetic services?

Non-material benefit, contributes to culture, wellbeing, and knowledge

Examples of cultural/aesthetic services?

• Hiking areas and natural landscapes for pleasure and recreation

• Spending time in nature can contribute to mental and physical healing time/peace

• Viewing nature can contribute to mental and physical healing time/peace

• Religious/cultural practices that take involve natural materials

  • Hinduism considers the Ganges River and cows sacred

  • Meditation in nature/grounding practices

  • Baptism in water

• Creative inspiration from nature

• Engineering inspiration from nature

What are supporting services?

• Cycles and processes in the earth-life system that keep life functioning by keeping essential nutrients, substrate, air, and water available

Examples of supporting services?

• Photosynthesis: plants, bacteria, and algae convert sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen to sustain themselves and us

• Water cycle: how water moves around earth and preserves itself: evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff

• Phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon moving around the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere

What is biomimicry?

• Imitating or taking inspiration from nature to solve human engineering problems

  • Velcro was invented by Swiss engineer George de Mestral in 1941 and being inspired by how burs stuck to his dogs fur