Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem Services

The benefits people get from the ecosystem

Ecosystem Functions

processes that control fluxes of energy, nutrients and organs matter throughout the environment

Four categories of ecosystem services

supporting, provisioning, regulating, cultural

Supporting

services that are necessary for production of all other ecosystem services

Provisioning

Products that are obtained from ecosystem

Examples of provisions

Food, Freshwater, Fiber, Biochemicals, Biofuels, Genetic Resources

Regulating

benefits obtained form regulating ecosystem processes

Examples of Regulating

Climate regulation, Moderation of extreme weather events, Water regulation, water purification, biological control of pests and disease, pollination

Moderation of Extreme weather events

having salt marshes, mangroves, coral reef can reduce the damage of weather event such as a hurricane

Water Regulation

changes in land cover through converting wetlands or forestlands with urban influences the timing and magnitude of runoff, flooding and aquifer recharge

Water Purification

natural ecosystems can purify water

Biological control of pests and disease

Removing the trophic level underneath pest could decrease the pest and therefore, decrease pest

Cultural

nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems

Cultural benefits examples

recreation, ecoutourism, aesthetic, spiritual value

Watershed

cities are surrounded by high lands with mountains so water flows downhill to city in dams

New York City's water supply

Ruined because of additions of sewage to streams and addition of fertilizer and pesticides

Two options to improve water supply

1) Water Purification Plant

2) Buy land around catchment area so it is better restricted and have better sewage treatment plants

Collapse of Atlantic Northwest Cod Fishery

Villages in Canada made a living on codfish but human activity caused the codfish population to be wipes out which led to unemployment

How does biodiversity affect Ecosystem functions?

Diversity Productivity Hypothesis and Biodiversity Ecosystem services Hypothesis

Density Productivity Hypothesis

High species richness promotes high productivity

Mechanisms of Diversity Productivity Hypothesis

Complementarity Effect and Sample Effect

Complementary Effect

species differ in how they obtain resources so as species diversity increases, utilization of all resources increases

Sampling Effect

Some dominant species produce more than others but as species diversity increases, you increase the chance of having at least one dominant species

Shape of Productivity Diversity Curve

1) Linear relationship with positive slope = complementary effect

2) increase then plateau - Sample effect

Field Experiments on Grassland Plants in Minnesota

1) More species, more productivity - complementarity effect

2) presence of high productive plants

= both mechanisms in play - supporting Diversity- Productivity Hypothesis

Biodiversity- Ecosystem Services Hypothesis

Biodiversity enhances the benefits people obtain from ecosystems

Examples of Provisioning Services of Biodiversity- Ecosystem services Hypothesis

1) Tree species diversity increases wood production

2) Grassland plant species diversity increases fodder production

3) Fish species diversity enhances total yields

Examples of Regulating Services of Biodiversity Ecosystem services Hypothesis

1) Native plant diversity increases resistance to invasion by exotic plants

2) Plant pathogens are less prevalent in more diverse plant communities