4.2 - Ecosystem Services

Question 1

What are ecosystem services?

Answer 1

Goods that come from natural resources or services/functions that ecosystems carry out that have measurable economic/financial value to humans

Question 2

Definition of provisioning

Answer 2

Goods taken directly from ecosystems or made from nat. resources (wood, paper, food)

Question 3

Definition of Regulating

Answer 3

Nat. ecosystems regulate climate/air quality, reducing storm damage & healthcare costs

Question 4

Definition of supporting

Answer 4

Nat. ecosystems support processes we do ourselves, making them cheaper & easier(bees pollinate crops)

Question 5

Definition of cultural

Answer 5

Money generate by recreation (parks, camping, tours) or scientific knowledge

Question 6

How do humans disrupt ecosystems?-

Answer 6

• Human activities disrupt the ability of ecosystems to function, which decreases the value of ecosystem services they provide
• This has ecological (natural) and economic (money-based) consequences
• Clearing land for ag./cities removes trees that store CO2 (more CO2 in atm. = more CC = more storm damage & crop failure)
• Overfishing leads to fish pop. collapse (lost fishing jobs and lower fish sales in the future)

Question 7

Explain provisioning services

Answer 7

• Goods/products directly provided to humans for sale/use by ecosystems
  - Ex: Fish, hunting animals, lumber (wood for
  furniture/buildings) naturally grown foods like
  berries, seeds, wild grains, honey
• Goods/products that are made from natural resources that ecosystems provide
  - Ex: paper, medicine, rubber

Question 8

How are provisioning services disrupted?

Answer 8

• Disrupted by overharvesting, water pollution, clearing land for ag/urbanization

Question 9

Explain regulating services

Answer 9

• Benefit provided by ecosystem processes that moderate natural conditions like climate and air quality
• Trees in a forest sequester (store) CO2 through photosynthesis which reduces rate of climate change & lessens damage caused by rising sea level & reduces crop failure from drought
• Trees filter air by absorbing air pollutants which reduces health care costs for treating diseases like asthma and bronchitis

Question 10

How are regulating services disrupted?

Answer 10

Disrupted by deforestation

Question 11

Explain supporting services

Answer 11

• Natural ecosystems support processes we do ourselves, making them less costly and easier for us
• Wetland plant roots filter pollutants, leading to cleaner groundwater that we don’t have to pay as much to purify with expensive water treatment plants
• Bees & other insects pollinate our ag. Crops, leading to more crop production & higher profits

Question 12

How are supporting services disrupted?

Answer 12

Disrupted by pollinator hab. loss & filling in wetlands for development

Question 13

Explain cultural services

Answer 13

• Revenue from recreational activities (hunting/fishing licenses, park fees, tourism-related spending) & profits from scientific discoveries made in ecosystems (health/ag./educational knowledge)
• Beautiful landscapes draw tourists who pay to enter parks, spend money at local stores/restaurants, or camping fees
• Fishermen pay for fishing licenses to catch fish in clean rivers
• Scientists learn about plant compounds that can lead to creation of new medicines which are sold for profit

Question 14

How are cultural services disrupted?

Answer 14

Disrupted by deforestation, pollution, urbanization