Ecosystem Goods and Services Overview

Ecosystem Goods and Services

• Definition: Benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, essential for well-being.
• Components of Well-Being:
  • Security (e.g., safety from disasters)
  • Nutrition (food supply)
  • Clean air and water
  • Health (disease prevention)
  • Economic benefits (jobs and resources)

Importance of Healthy Ecosystems

• Healthy ecosystems improve human well-being, leading to better public health and economy.
• Agricultural ecosystems benefit from pollinator presence, supported by diverse ecosystems.
• Impact of unhealthy ecosystems:
  • Increased disease transmission from wildlife to humans due to ecosystem degradation.

Land Use and Ecosystem Health

• Human activities (pollution, land encroachment) actively impact ecosystem health.
• Climate change creates challenges for species survival and ecosystem functioning.
• Governance policies are essential to protect ecosystem services while balancing human needs.

Ecosystem Goods and Services Categories

• Provisioning Services: Tangible products (water, food, wood).
• Regulating Services: Climate regulation, pollination, flood protection.
• Cultural Services: Recreational and aesthetic benefits (nature appreciation).
• Supporting Services: Nutrient cycling, soil formation necessary for primary production.

Economic Value of Ecosystems

• Ecosystems' value surpasses global GDP.
• In 1998, economists assessed ecosystems’ worth in relation to goods, materials, and services provided, demonstrating their crucial economic role.

Decline of Ecosystem Health

• Increasing pressure leading to loss of biodiversity or ecosystems.
• Example of Tragedy of the Commons: Overexploitation (overfishing, deforestation) leading to long-term resource depletion.
• Estimated loss of $4-20 trillion annually in ecosystem services highlights need for sustainable practices.

Biodiversity Overview

• Definition: Variety of life, including species richness and genetic diversity.
• Importance of genetic diversity in resilience to environmental pressures.
• Current estimates suggest 1.6 million species described but many undiscovered.

Role of Biodiversity

• Essential for ecosystem processes supporting life (e.g., pollination, nutrient cycling).
• Direct benefits to humans:
  • Food sources (fish, crops)
  • Medical resources from diverse plant species
  • Ecosystem services supporting flood mitigation and habitat stability.

Measuring Biodiversity

• Techniques include field samples, surveys, satellites, drones, and DNA sampling.
• Citizen science plays a role in data collection and awareness.

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat Loss: Due to urbanization, agriculture, pollution, etc.
• Invasive Species: Harmful species disrupting local ecosystems.
• Climate Change: Affecting habitats and species viability.

Niche and Habitat Definitions

• Habitat: Specific physical location where species exist (e.g., wetlands, forests).
• Niche: Role and function of species within its habitat (e.g., feeding, behavior).
• Recognizing the interconnectedness within ecosystems helps in understanding ecological balance.

Species Relationships

• Predator-Prey: Essential for population control.
• Parasitism: One organism benefits at another's expense.
• Commensalism: One organism benefits while the other is unaffected.
• Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the interaction.

Ecological Dominance and Keystone Species

• Ecological dominance reflects few species abundant in a community, typically plants.
• Keystone species play critical roles, and their absence can lead to significant community changes. Visibility of predator species can maintain ecological balance.

Conclusion

• Understanding ecosystem dynamics is essential for promoting biodiversity and sustainability. This knowledge helps inform better governance and conservation practices.