Biology 3484A/B Lecture Notes - Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Terrestrial Ecosystem, Ecosystem Services
24 Dec 2012
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Human dependence on biodiversity: our species is dependent on biodiversity for many things, including food, raw materials for clothing and shelter, Ecosystem services (biodiversity services): the united nations did a study in 2005 called. Premise natural ecosystems (biodiversity) are humanity"s life support system. They provide essential services to all of humanity. It defined four categories of ecosystem/biodiversity services provided by biodiversity worldwide provisioning services, regulating services, cultural services, and supporting services. Provisioning services (supplying humans with necessities): to provision means to supply with necessities such as food and water. Regulating services (regulating essential aspects of our environment): ecosystems/biodiversity regulate components of our environment that we depend on for survival. This includes regulation of climate/atmosphere (carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, o2, clean air), regulation of freshwater (hydrologic cycle provides freshwater for consumption), and storm water management (freshwater ecosystems such as wetlands). Wetlands are a terrestrial ecosystem permanently or seasonally saturated with water.
