Biology Flashcards
1
Q
What are ecosystem services ?
A
Benefits that humans freely gain from the natural environment
2
Q
What are the four categories of ecosystem services?
A
- Provisioning
- Regulating
- Supporting
- Cultural
3
Q
In order to help inform decision makers, what is being done?
A
To help inform decision-makers, many ecosystem services are being assigned economic values
4
Q
What are provisioning services?
A
- Food
- Raw materials (fuel wood)
- Medicinal resources (pharmaceuticals)
- Energy (hydropower, biomass)
5
Q
What are regulating services?
A
- Climate regulation
- Predation regulates prey populations
- Purification of water and air
6
Q
What are supporting services?
A
- Nutrient recycling
- Primary production (photosynthesis)
- Soil formation
- Habitat provision
- Pollination
7
Q
What do supporting services make possible for ecosystems?
A
Make it possible for ecosystems to continue providing services such as food supply and water regulation
8
Q
Name an example of a supporting service that humans now have to do themselves
A
- Pollination of crops by bees is required for 15-30% of US food production
- Intensified agricultural practices erode pollination services
- Most large-scale farmers have to import non-native honey bees to provide this service
9
Q
What are cultural services?
A
- Spiritual (use of nature for religious / heritage value)
- Recreational experiences (ecotourism)
- Therapeutic
