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What is an ecosystem?

The biological community that occurs in some locale plus the physical, climatological, and chemical conditions that make up its non-living/abiotic environment, and their interactions.

What are abiotic ecosystem components?

Sunlight, temperature, precipitation, substrate type, soil or water chemistry.

What are biotic ecosystem components?

Primary producers, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores.

Give an example of the interactions between biotic and abiotic ecosystem components.

Coastal ecosystem:
Biotic—fish, insects, shellfish, birds, raccoons, humans.
Abiotic—surf zone, front beach, dunes, nutrients, organic matter, salinity, pH, infrastructure.

What are ecosystem functions?

The primary ecosystem processes of capturing, storing, and transferring energy, CO₂, nutrients, and water.

What ecological processes underlie energy transfer as an ecosystem function?

Photosynthesis, decomposition, nutrient uptake/release, pollination, herbivory, carnivory.

What is ecosystem functioning?

The capacity of ecosystems to carry out the primary processes of capturing, storing, and transferring energy, CO₂, nutrients, and water.

Why were ecosystems historically undervalued?

They were often seen as public property, so societies failed to account for their importance

What are ecosystem goods and services?

The wide range of benefits provided by Earth’s ecosystems to humanity.

What did the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) conclude?

Two-thirds of Earth’s ecosystem services are in decline or threatened.

Why is there a need to quantify ecosystem goods and services?

To inform policy and management; for example, rewarding landowners who protect valuable ecosystem services.

What recent (2024) advancements relate to ecosystem services?

Enhanced valuation models; UNEP Global Resources Outlook 2024; ESP Europe 2024 conference on ecosystem degradation and human health.

What are supporting services?

Processes necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services, e.g., nutrient dispersal/cycling, seed dispersal, primary production.

What are regulating services?

Benefits obtained from ecosystem processes that help regulate natural phenomena.

What are provisioning services (goods)?

Goods obtained from ecosystems such as food, crops, wild foods, spices, water, minerals, energy, raw materials, genetic and medicinal resources, ornamental resources.

Give examples of medicinal or raw-material goods from ecosystems.

Substances from plant species used in over 50% of prescription medicines; 5,000 South American plant species exploited for therapeutics; 2,000 species used in industry.

What are cultural services?

Heritage values, cultural identity, spiritual services, inspiration (art/folklore), aesthetic appreciation, recreation and tourism, scientific discovery.

Give an example showing supporting vs. regulating services.

Wetlands.

What is the estimated global value of pollination services (latest sources 2019)?

Between $235 and $577 billion (U.S.) annually.

What services do Posidonia meadows provide?

Substrate stabilization, protection of shallow coasts, shelter for fish schools.

What services do mangroves provide?

Protection from tsunamis, wood, shelter for fish, cycling of terrestrial runoff, high food production per hectare.

What services do kelp forests and coral reefs provide?

High productivity, commercial and recreational fisheries, tourist attraction, protection of coasts.

What is the estimated value of the ocean CO₂ absorption service?

250 billion US$ per year.

What threatens kelp forest ecosystem services?

Anthropogenic activities.