DOCSLIB.ORG

Ecosystem Services for Human Well-Being

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ecosystem Services for Human Well-Being BIODIVERSITY AND AGRICULTURE Ecosystem Services for Human Well-Being Healthy ecosystems provide services that are the foundation for human well-being including health. Ecosystem services are the bene ts people obtain from ecosystems: provisioning services (also known as goods) such as food and water; regulating services such as ood, pest, and disease control; cultural services such as spiritual and recreational bene ts; and supporting services, such as nutrient cycling, that maintain the conditions for life on Earth. Biodiversity underpins ecosystem functioning. Figure 1 taken from Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 demonstrates the link between ecosystem services and human well-being and drivers of change.1 e di erent levels (genes, species, ecosystems) and aspects of biodiversity directly and indirectly contribute to ecosystem goods and services, which not only deliver the basic materials needed for survival but also underlie other aspects of a good life: health, security, good social relations, and freedom of choice. Humans, through social and economic activities and environmental management, create indirect and direct drivers of change that can a ect, positively and negatively, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. e Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, completed in 2005 by more than 1360 scientists working in 95 countries, exam- ined the state of 24 services. e assessment concluded that 15 of the 24 services are in decline, including the provision of fresh water, marine sheries production, the number and quality of places of spiritual and religious value, the ability of the atmosphere to cleanse itself of pollution, and the capacity of agro-ecosystems to provide pest control.2 Figure 1: Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and drivers of change INDIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE HUMAN WELL-BEING Demographic Science and technology Basic Material for good life Economic Cultural and religious Health Sociopolitical Security Good social relations Freedom of choice and action DIRECT DRIVERS OF CHANGE Climate change Nutrient loading ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES Land use change Species introduction GOODS (provisioning services) CULTURAL SERVICES Overexploitation Food, ber and fuel Spiritual and religious values Genetic resources Knowledge system Biochemicals Education and inspiration Fresh water Recreation and aesthetic values BIODIVERSITY Number Composition REGULATING SERVICES SUPPORTING SERVICES Relative abundance Interactions Invasion resistance Primary production Herbivory Provision of habitat Pollination Nutrient cycling Seed dispersal Soil formation and retention Climate regulation Production of atmospheric Pest regulation oxygen Disease regulation Water cycling Natural hazard protection ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS Erosion regulation Water puri cation 22.05.2008 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Biodiversity and Agriculture Overall, the multitude of human drivers of change has signi cant negative repercussions on the ability of ecosystems to provide these services to all species. Table 1 provides some statistics about human impacts, especially through agricul- ture, on some ecosystem services.3 e harmful consequences of this degradation could grow signi cantly worse in the next 50 years if the important drivers of ecosystem change do not diminish. Two drivers—climate change and excessive nutrient loading—are predicted to become more severe.4 Adoption of sustainable and equitable practices for now and future generations become more and more signi cant as each day goes by. Table 1: Summary of human impacts on some ecosystem services Service Condition and Trends FOOD PROVISIONING SERVICE Ñ Food production increase by 160% from 1961 to 2003, as a result of intensifi cation and expansion. Ñ Gains in food services have come at the expense of other services, such as disease regulation. WATER PROVISIONING AND SUPPORTING SERVICES Ñ Human use of freshwater runoff has increased dramatically at a mean rate of 20% per decade between 1960 and 2000, with 70% worldwide used for agriculture. Ñ Inorganic nitrogen pollution of inland waters has increased more than twofold globally since 1960. Ñ More than 1 billion people live in areas without appreciable supplies of renewable fresh water to meet their needs. TIMBER, FIBER, FUEL PROVISIONING SERVICES Ñ Global timber harvests increased by 60% since 1960. Ñ Fuelwood is the primary source of energy for heating and cooking for some 2.6 billion people, although they account for less then 7% of world energy use. Ñ Among agricultural fi bres, global cotton production has doubled and silk has tripled since 1961. CLIMATE REGULATION Ñ About 40% of historical emissions (over the last 2 centuries) and about 20% of CO2 emissions (1990s) originated from land use changes, mostly deforestation. Ñ Terrestrial ecosystems become a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases when they are broken down, but they become a net sink during regrowth (afforestation and reforestation for example). Terrestrial ecosystems were on average a net source of CO2 during the 19th and early 20 th centuries. DISEASE REGULATION Ñ Intensive livestock production that uses subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strands of Salmonella, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli bacteria. Ñ Deforestation has increased the risk of malaria in Africa and South America by increasing habitat suitable for malaria-transmitting mosquitoes. Ñ Natural systems with preserved structure and characteristics, such as the Amazon forest, generally resist the introduction of invasive human pathogens brought by migration. 1. Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2006. Global Biodiversity Outlook 2. SCBD, Montreal. 2. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC. 3. Ibid: 103–122. 4. Ibid: 2. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 413 Saint Jacques Street, Suite 800, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9 Tel. +1 514-288-2220 Fax: +1 514-288-6588 For further information please visit www.cbd.int or contact us via email at [email protected].
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Thermophilic Lithotrophy and Phototrophy in an Intertidal, Iron-Rich, Geothermal Spring 2 3 Lewis M
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/428698; this version posted September 27, 2018. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license. 1 Thermophilic Lithotrophy and Phototrophy in an Intertidal, Iron-rich, Geothermal Spring 2 3 Lewis M. Ward1,2,3*, Airi Idei4, Mayuko Nakagawa2,5, Yuichiro Ueno2,5,6, Woodward W. 4 Fischer3, Shawn E. McGlynn2* 5 6 1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA 7 2. Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan 8 3. Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 9 91125 USA 10 4. Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, 11 Japan 12 5. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Meguro, Tokyo, 13 152-8551, Japan 14 6. Department of Subsurface Geobiological Analysis and Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth 15 Science and Technology, Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka 237-0061, Japan 16 Correspondence: [email protected] or [email protected] 17 18 Abstract 19 Hydrothermal systems, including terrestrial hot springs, contain diverse and systematic 20 arrays of geochemical conditions that vary over short spatial scales due to progressive interaction 21 between the reducing hydrothermal fluids, the oxygenated atmosphere, and in some cases 22 seawater. At Jinata Onsen, on Shikinejima Island, Japan, an intertidal, anoxic, iron- and 23 hydrogen-rich hot spring mixes with the oxygenated atmosphere and sulfate-rich seawater over 24 short spatial scales, creating an enormous range of redox environments over a distance ~10 m.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity Within the Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada by Breanna Beaver Submit
    Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity within The Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada by Breanna Beaver Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in the Environmental Science Program YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY December, 2017 Analysis of Habitat Fragmentation and Ecosystem Connectivity within The Castle Parks, Alberta, Canada Breanna Beaver I hereby release this thesis to the public. I understand that this thesis will be made available from the OhioLINK ETD Center and the Maag Library Circulation Desk for public access. I also authorize the University or other individuals to make copies of this thesis as needed for scholarly research. Signature: Breanna Beaver, Student Date Approvals: Dawna Cerney, Thesis Advisor Date Peter Kimosop, Committee Member Date Felicia Armstrong, Committee Member Date Clayton Whitesides, Committee Member Date Dr. Salvatore A. Sanders, Dean of Graduate Studies Date Abstract Habitat fragmentation is an important subject of research needed by park management planners, particularly for conservation management. The Castle Parks, in southwest Alberta, Canada, exhibit extensive habitat fragmentation from recreational and resource use activities. Umbrella and keystone species within The Castle Parks include grizzly bears, wolverines, cougars, and elk which are important animals used for conservation agendas to help protect the matrix of the ecosystem. This study identified and analyzed the nature of habitat fragmentation within The Castle Parks for these species, and has identified geographic areas of habitat fragmentation concern. This was accomplished using remote sensing, ArcGIS, and statistical analyses, to develop models of fragmentation for ecosystem cover type and Digital Elevation Models of slope, which acted as proxies for species habitat suitability.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecological Systems of the United States a Working Classification of U.S
    ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED STATES A WORKING CLASSIFICATION OF U.S. TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS NatureServe is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the scientific knowledge that forms the basis for effective conservation action. Citation: Comer, P., D. Faber-Langendoen, R. Evans, S. Gawler, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, M. Pyne, M. Reid, K. Schulz, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2003. Ecological Systems of the United States: A Working Classification of U.S. Terrestrial Systems. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. © NatureServe 2003 Ecological Systems of the United States is a component of NatureServe’s International Terrestrial Ecological Systems Classification. Á Funding for this report was provided by a grant from The Nature Conservancy. Front cover: Maroon Bells Wilderness, Colorado. Photo © Patrick Comer NatureServe 1101 Wilson Boulevard, 15th Floor Arlington, VA 22209 (703) 908-1800 www.natureserve.org ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED STATES A WORKING CLASSIFICATION OF U.S. TERRESTRIAL SYSTEMS Á Á Á Á Á Patrick Comer Don Faber-Langendoen Rob Evans Sue Gawler Carmen Josse Gwen Kittel Shannon Menard Milo Pyne Marion Reid Keith Schulz Kristin Snow Judy Teague June 2003 Acknowledgements We wish to acknowledge the generous support provided by The Nature Conservancy for this effort to classify and characterize the ecological systems of the United States. We are particularly grateful to the late John Sawhill, past President of The Nature Conservancy, who was an early supporter of this concept, and who made this funding possible through an allocation from the President’s Discretionary Fund. Many of the concepts and approaches for defining and applying ecological systems have greatly benefited from collaborations with Conservancy staff, and the classification has been refined during its application in Conservancy-sponsored conservation assessments.
    [Show full text]
  • Interactions Between Photosynthesis and Respiration in an Aquatic Ecosystem
    Interactions between Photosynthesis and Respiration in an Aquatic Ecosystem Jane E. Caldwell and Kristi Teagarden 53 Campus Drive, P.O. Box 6057 Dept. of Biology West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506 [email protected] (304)293-5201 extension 31459 [email protected] (304)293-5201 extension 31542 Abstract: Students measure the results of respiration and photosynthesis separately, combined, and in comparison to a non-living control “ecosystem”. The living ecosystem uses only snails and water plants. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia nitrogen concentrations are measured with simple colorimetric and titration water tests using commercially available kits. The exercise is designed for large enrollment non-majors labs, but modifications for large and small classrooms are described. Introduction This lab exercise was developed for a freshman course for non-science majors at West Virginia University. The exercise asks students to apply their knowledge of basic metabolic processes to a series of simple aquatic ecosystems, which students monitor through water testing. These ecosystems consist of aquaria containing plants and/or snails with or without light exposure, and are compared against a non-living control system (an aquarium with water, light, and gravel). As they analyze their results, students observe the interplay of respiration, photosynthesis, protein digestion (or waste excretion), and decomposition through their effects on dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. Students synthesize these observations into written explanations of their results. During the course of the lab, students: • predict the relative levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia for various aquaria compared to a control aquarium. • observe and conduct titrimetric and colorimetric tests for dissolved compounds in water.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Implications Is Biogeography: For
    FEATURE BIODIVERSITY IS BIOGEOGRAPHY: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION By G. Carleton Ray THREE THEMES DOMINATEthis review. The first is similarities, as is apparent within the coastal zone, that biodiversity is biogeography. Or, as Nelson the biodiversity of which depends on land-sea in- and Ladiges (1990) put it: "Indeed, what beyond teractions. biogeography is "biodiversity' about?" Second, "Characteristic Biodiversity"--a Static View watershed and seashed patterns and their scale-re- A complete species inventory for any biogeo- lated dynamics are major modifiers of biogeo- graphic province on Earth is virtually impossible. graphic pattern. And, third, concepts of biodiver- In fact, species lists, absent a biogeographic frame sity and biogeography are essential guides for of reference, can be ecologically meaningless, be- conservation and management of coastal-marine cause such lists say little about the dynamics of systems, especially for MACPAs (MArine and environmental change. To address such dynamics, Coastal Protected Areas). biodiversity is best expressed at a hierarchy of Conservation and conservation bioecology have scales, which this discussion follows. entered into an era of self-awareness of their suc- cesses. Proponents of "biodiversity" have achieved Global Patterns worldwide recognition. Nevertheless: "Like so Hayden el al. (1984) attempted a summary of the many buzz words, biodiversity has many shades of state-of-the-art of global, coastal-marine biogeogra- • . the coastal zone, meaning and is often used to express vague and phy at the behest of UNESCO's Man and the Bios- which is the most bio- ill-thought-out concepts" (Angel, 1991), as phere Programme (MAB) and the International reflected by various biodiversity "strategies" Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
    [Show full text]
  • What Are Ecosystem Services? the Need for Standardized Environmental Accounting Units
    January 2006 RFF DP 06-02 What Are Ecosystem Services? The Need for Standardized Environmental Accounting Units James Boyd and Spencer Banzhaf 1616 P St. NW Washington, DC 20036 202-328-5000 www.rff.org DISCUSSION PAPER What Are Ecosystem Services? The Need for Standardized Environmental Accounting Units James Boyd and Spencer Banzhaf Abstract This paper advocates consistently defined units of account to measure the contributions of nature to human welfare. We argue that such units have to date not been defined by environmental accounting advocates and that the term “ecosystem services” is too ad hoc to be of practical use in welfare accounting. We propose a definition, rooted in economic principles, of ecosystem service units. A goal of these units is comparability with the definition of conventional goods and services found in GDP and the other national accounts. We illustrate our definition of ecological units of account with concrete examples. We also argue that these same units of account provide an architecture for environmental performance measurement by governments, conservancies, and environmental markets. Key Words: Environmental accounting, ecosystem services, index theory, nonmarket valuation JEL Classification Numbers: Q51, Q57, Q58, D6 © 2006 Resources for the Future. All rights reserved. No portion of this paper may be reproduced without permission of the authors. Discussion papers are research materials circulated by their authors for purposes of information and discussion. They have not necessarily undergone formal peer review. Contents 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 2. Standardized Units Will Improve Environmental Procurement and Accounting ....... 2 3. The Architecture of Welfare Accounts ............................................................................. 5 4. A Definition of Ecosystem Services ..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • III.9 Ecosystem Productivity and Carbon Flows: Patterns Across Ecosystems Julien Lartigue and Just Cebrian
    III.9 Ecosystem Productivity and Carbon Flows: Patterns across Ecosystems Julien Lartigue and Just Cebrian OUTLINE by fitting the following single exponential equation to the pattern of detritus decay observed in experi- 1. Nature of carbon budgets mental incubations, DM ¼ DM eÀ k(t À t0), where 2. Rationale and approach for studying patterns of t t0 k is the decomposition rate, DM is the detrital ecosystem productivity and carbon flow t mass remaining in the experimental incubation at 3. Patterns in ecosystem productivity and carbon time t,DM is the initial detrital mass, and (tÀt )is flow t0 0 the incubation time 4. Conclusion detrital production. The amount (in g CÁmÀ2ÁyearÀ1)of net primary production not consumed by herbi- The characterization and understanding of carbon flows in vores, which senesces and enters the detrital com- aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are topics of paramount partment importance for several disciplines, such as ecology, bio- detritus. Dead primary producer material, which nor- geochemistry, oceanography, and climatology. Scientists mally becomes detached from the primary producer have been studying such flows in many diverse ecosystems after senescence for decades, and sufficient information is now available to herbivory. The amount (in g CÁmÀ2ÁyearÀ1) of net investigate whether any patterns are evident in how carbon primary production ingested or removed, including flows in ecosystems and to determine the factors respon- primary producer biomass discarded by herbivores sible for those patterns. In particular, a wealth of infor- net primary production. The amount (in g CÁmÀ2Á mation exists on the movement of carbon through the yearÀ1) of carbon assimilated through photosyn- activity of herbivores and consumers of detritus (i.e., de- thesis and not respired by the producer composers and detritivores), two of the major agents of nutrient concentration (producer or detritus).
    [Show full text]
  • Minireview Chemolithotrohic Bacteria
    Microbes Environ. Vol. 22, No. 4, 309–319, 2007 http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jsme2/ Minireview Chemolithotrohic Bacteria: Distributions, Functions and Significance in Volcanic Environments GARY M. KING1* 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA (Received August 21, 2007—Accepted September 11, 2007) A mosaic of environments comprises most volcanic ecosystems. Whether terrestrial or submarine, many of these environments contain large deposits of reduced minerals, or experience large fluxes of reduced substrates, especially sulfur-containing compounds. These systems, which also are typically characterized by temperature and pH extremes, have yielded a rich variety of chemolithotrophic bacteria, and contributed much to our under- standing of chemolithotroph ecology and physiology. However, volcanic ecosystems also consist of environ- ments where inorganic and organic substrates are limiting. In these cases, chemolithotrophs may still play impor- tant roles by scavenging carbon monoxide, hydrogen or both. These gases can support metabolism of facultative chemolithotrophs, a functional group that includes many nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Facultative chemolithotrophs may not only represent important early colonists on fresh volcanic substrates (e.g., basalts lacking sulfides), they may also contribute significantly to ecosystem succession through nitrogen fixation and interactions with vascu- lar plants. Analyses of CO and hydrogen consumption by recent deposits on Kilauea volcano show that both sub-
    [Show full text]
  • Physical Geography Chapter 11: Biogeography Ecosystem
    Physical Geography Chapter 11: Biogeography Ecosystem - broad and flexible they are open systems -sharp boundary - Fig 11.1 - small ecosystem can be artificial - Fig 11.2 Ecosystems typically have four basic components: 1. Abiotic - non living part of the system In a Pond Ecosystem: Ca, H2O, NaCl, O2, C02 2. Autotrophs (Self nourished) - basic producers plants -utilize sunlight to make food through photosynthesis (release O2) some bacteria, and sulfur-dependent ocean bottom critters 3. Heterotrophs – (other nourished) – animals that survive by eating plants or other animals a. Herbivores –eat only living plant material b. Carnivores- eat other animals c. Omnivores- eat everything important for they respire - release 02 back to environment 4. Decomposers or Detritivores - feed on dead plants and animal material and waste products. Trophic Structure the pattern of feeding in an ecosystem Food Chain- sequence of levels in the feeding patter simplest chains only plants and decomposers most here 4 → grass → mouse → owl → fungi Trophic level number of steps they are removed from the autotrophs - TABLE 11.1 Reality - Food chains do not operate in isolation, they develop food webs (Figure 11.3) Energy Flow The laws of Thermodynamics apply to ecosystems First Law: Energy cannot be created nor destroyed , if can only be changed from one form to another Sun energy → Photosynthesis→ works through ecosystem until oxidation (fire, respiration) Bio mass - total amount of living material in an ecosystem decreases with each trophic level Second Law: whenever energy is transformed from one state to another there will be a loss of energy through heat. Heat Loss: Respiration, movement Principle applies to agriculture: There is a great deal more bio mass (and food energy) available in a field of corn than there is in the cattle that eat the corn.
    [Show full text]
  • Cascading Effects of Predator Diversity and Omnivory in a Marine Food Web
    Ecology Letters, (2005) 8: 1048–1056 doi: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00808.x LETTER Cascading effects of predator diversity and omnivory in a marine food web Abstract John F. Bruno1* and Mary Over-harvesting, habitat loss and exotic invasions have altered predator diversity and I. O’Connor2 composition in a variety of communities which is predicted to affect other trophic levels 1Department of Marine and ecosystem functioning. We tested this hypothesis by manipulating predator identity Sciences, CB 3300, The University and diversity in outdoor mesocosms that contained five species of macroalgae and a of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, macroinvertebrate herbivore assemblage dominated by amphipods and isopods. We used Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA five common predators including four carnivores (crabs, shrimp, blennies and killifish) 2Curriculum in Ecology, CB 3275, and one omnivore (pinfish). Three carnivorous predators each induced a strong trophic The University of North Carolina cascade by reducing herbivore abundance and increasing algal biomass and diversity. at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA Surprisingly, increasing predator diversity reversed these effects on macroalgae and *Correspondence: E-mail: altered algal composition, largely due to the inclusion and performance of omnivorous [email protected] fish in diverse predator assemblages. Changes in predator diversity can cascade to lower trophic levels; the exact effects, however, will be difficult to predict due to the many complex interactions that occur in diverse food webs. Keywords Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, food web, macroalgae, omnivory, predator, primary production, trophic cascade. Ecology Letters (2005) 8: 1048–1056 considered plant or animal biodiversity in a food web INTRODUCTION context (Ives et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Modeling Marine Food Webs and Human Impacts Overview in This Two-Part Lesson, Students Will Develop Food Webs and Investigate Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems
    Modeling Marine Food Webs and Human Impacts Overview In this two-part lesson, students will develop food webs and investigate human impacts on marine ecosystems. In Part I, students will explore the ecological role of organisms in an ocean habitat and use information provided on Food Web Cards to develop food chains. In Part ll, students will model the interconnected feeding relationships in the open ocean ecosystem by developing food webs and then use their food webs to explore the impact that different scenarios have on the ecosystem. Grade Levels: 5-8 Learning Objectives Students will be able to: • Analyze the role of organisms as producers, consumers, and decomposers in marine ecosystems. • Develop a model to describe the movement of energy in marine ecosystems. • Use their model to explore impact scenarios in marine ecosystems. NGSS Performance Expectations • 5-LS2-1: Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment. • MS-LS2-3: Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem. Suggested Time: Two 50-minute class periods Materials • Student Worksheet 1 • Student Worksheet 2 • Poster paper for creating food webs • Markers in multiple colors • Food Web Cards • Food Chain image • Food Chain with Energy Flow Arrows image • Sample Completed Food Web • For the teacher – Computer with Internet access, projector 1 Media Resources • Blue Whale Barrel Roll video • The Tucker Trawl video • Endangered Sea Turtles video • Marine Debris Impacts video Part I: Food Chains in the Open Ocean Students will explore the roles that different organisms play in a marine ecosystem by determining the links that exist between the organisms.
    [Show full text]
  • 5 Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology
    5 Environmental Systems and Ecosystem Ecology Chapter Objectives This chapter will help you: Describe the nature of environmental systems Define ecosystems and evaluate how living and nonliving entities interact in ecosystem-level ecology Outline the fundamentals of landscape ecology, GIS, and ecological modeling Assess ecosystem services and how they benefit our lives Compare and contrast how water, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen cycle through the environment Explain how human impact is affecting biogeochemical cycles Lecture/Reading Outline I. Central Case: The Gulf of Mexico’s “Dead Zone” A. The dead zone is a region in the Gulf of Mexico so depleted of oxygen that it cannot support marine organisms, a condition called hypoxia. B. In 2002, the dead zone grew to its largest size ever—22,000 square km (8,500 square miles). C. The change from productive fishery to dead zone has occurred in the last 30 years. The spread of the hypoxic zone threatens the Gulf’s fishing industry, one of the most productive fisheries in the United States. D. Scientists studying the dead zone have determined that fertilizer runoff from Midwestern farms carried through the watershed by rain and irrigation is a major cause of the hypoxia. E. Other important causes include urban runoff, industrial discharge, fossil fuel combustion, and municipal sewage. F. Approximately 400 coastal dead zones have been documented worldwide. II. Earth’s Environmental Systems A. Systems show several defining properties. 1. A system is a network of relationships among a group of parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, and/or information.
    [Show full text]