Value and Distribution of Ecosystems Flashcards
What are ecosystem goods?
Physical products derived directly from the ecosystem.
What are ecosystem services?
Benefits obtained from ecosystems, resulting from interactions between organisms and their natural environment and that are important to our well being.
What are provisioning services?
Direct products of goods obtained, such as food, fresh water, wood and fuel.
What are regulating services?
Benefits from natural regulation of systems such as climate regulation, CO2 regulation, water purification, and flood and disease regulation.
What are cultural services?
Non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems, such as aesthetic, spiritual, education and recreational use.
What are supporting services?
Processes that keep the ecosystem functional, such as nutrient cycling, soil formation and primary production. We do not benefit as much from this.
What is the issue with our dependence on ecosystems?
Since we use them for survival and wellbeing, overexploitation of these resources can result in long-term loss of services, placing humans at risk.
What is the example of over dependence and spatial inequality of an ecosystem product?
The Jatropha tree in Kenya has seeds that are used as biodiesel. These are used by wealthier countries, but lead to ecosystem degradation in Kenya. Because the manufacturing also occurs in HICs, Kenya actually take in very little value from this tree but suffer the effects of land degradation.
What is biome distribution principally controlled by?
Climate - temperature and moisture availability.
What are the climate conditions for a coniferous forest?
Cooler with more moisture.
What are the climate conditions for a tropical forest?
Warmer with more moisture.
What are the climate conditions for tundra?
Freezing with more moisture
What are the climate conditions for deserts?
Warm with very little moisture
Where are deserts mainly located?
On the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Where are Coniferous Forests mainly located?
North, below the tundra.
