Ecosystem Services: Definition, History, Importance, Types, Examples

What are Ecosystem Services?

Ecosystem services are defined as the benefits that individuals obtain from ecosystems about the various biological structures and life processes of the earth. Some of the basic ecosystem services are discussed below:

• The services are provisioning services for food, water, and raw materials regulating services that include climate change, floods, and disease control cultural services.

• It includes the aesthetic and religious values of the ecosystem and the supporting services are the nutrient cycling and formation of soils.

• Ecological services contribute basic products, adjust biophysical conditions and buffer against disturbance, making them crucial to sustainable development and conservation in the world.

Types of Ecosystem Services

Ecosystem services are fundamental to life and fall into four types which are provisioning, regulating culture, and supporting services.

Provisioning Services (Food, Water, Raw Materials)

These services provide us with resources we use each day. Some of the basic points are discussed below:

• Food: Ecosystems provide food such as crops, fish, and forest materials. Agriculture and fisheries are sources of survival.

• Water: Rivers, lakes, and wetlands help in supplying water for drinking, agriculture and industries. Water can also be purified and regulated.

• Raw Materials: Forests provide timber, medicine, and other raw materials used in construction, industries, and health.

Regulating Services (Climate, Water Purification, Pollination, Pest Control)

These services keep nature in balance and also restore the services in nature. Some of the points are discussed below:

• Climate Regulation: Plants absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis thus slowing climate change.

• Water Purification: Wetlands and forests filter out pollutants, thus cleaning the water.

• Pollination: Bees, birds, and insects pollinate crops thereby ensuring food production.

• Pest and Disease Control: Predators and natural ecosystems reduce pests and lower the usage of pesticides.

Cultural Services (Ecotourism, Aesthetic, Educational)

These are services that connect people to nature and have historical importance. Some of the cultural services are discussed below:

• Ecotourism: National parks and natural areas offer hiking, camping, and wildlife watching therefore enhancing tourism and awareness.

• Aesthetic and Spiritual Values: Mountains, rivers, and animals influence people and have cultural or spiritual value.

• Educational Services: Ecosystems are used to promote scientific research and education, which teaches us about environments as a source of conservation and sustainability.

Supporting Services (Nutrient Cycling, Soil Formation, Primary Production)

These are crucial to maintaining ecosystem integrity. These supporting services are discussed below:

• Nutrient Cycling: Organic decomposition provides nutrients to the soil, enhancing plant life

• Soil Formation: The breakdown of rocks and organic material forms soils to support plants and farming.

• Basic Production: This makes it the foundation of food chains, whereas carbon dioxide is regulated by energy produced through the use of sunlight in plants.

• Support Life: Ecosystem services help in providing fundamental support to life, biodiversity, and human welfare. This means protecting these different services, which will continue to sustain us and the planet.

Examples of Ecosystem Services in Daily Life

Ecosystem services are the benefits humans obtain from nature. Ecosystems provide all these services and countless others for free.

• Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems provide us with food like crops, fish, fruits, etc. and drinking water.

• They also provide us raw materials like timber, medicine used for construction, health and other industries.

• Plants purify air by absorbing carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

• Bees, butterflies, birds and animals help to pollinate crops.

• Decomposers help in enriching the soil with nutrients, making it suitable for agricultural activities.

• Forests and wetlands regulate temperature, rainfall and prevent extreme environmental conditions.

Importance of Ecosystem Services for Biodiversity and Human Welfare

Ecosystem services encompass all the processes through which natural ecosystems protect biodiversity and help sustain human life on Earth.

• Ecosystems purify the air and water.

• They support biodiversity by maintaining habitats and food webs.

• They detoxify and decompose the wastes.

• They help to reduce the impacts of extreme weather and flooding.

• The organisms in ecosystems pollinate our crops, control pests, and create and preserve our soils.

Ecosystem Services NEET MCQs (With Answers & Explanations)

Important topic that are asked in NEET exam from the given topic are:

• Types of Ecosystem Services

• Application and Importance of Ecosystem Services

Practice Questions for NEET

Q1. The ecosystem services include

1. maintenance of biodiversity

2. pollination of crop

3. spiritual, cultural and aesthetic values

4. all of these

Correct answer: 4) all of these

Explanation:

The products of ecosystem processes are named ecosystem services. For example, healthy forest ecosystems purify air and water, mitigate droughts and floods, cycle nutrients, generate fertile soils, provide wildlife habitat,
maintain biodiversity, pollinate crops, provide storage sites for carbon and also provide aesthetic, cultural and spiritual values. Though the value of such services of biodiversity is difficult to determine, it seems reasonable to think that biodiversity should carry a hefty price tag.

Hence, the correct answer is option 4) all of these.

Q2. Which of the following is an example of a supporting ecosystem service?

1. Recreation and tourism

2. Soil Formation

3. Climate Regulation

4. Water Purification

Correct answer: 2) Soil Formation

Explanation:

Supporting ecosystem services are the fundamental processes that maintain and enable other ecosystem services. These include nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production, which are essential for the functioning of ecosystems. Soil formation is a key supporting service because it creates the foundation for plant growth by providing the necessary minerals, water retention, and habitat for roots. Healthy soil supports primary production, the process by which plants produce organic matter through photosynthesis, which in turn supports provisioning services like food and fiber, and regulating services like carbon storage and water filtration. Soil formation, therefore, plays a crucial role in sustaining life and facilitating other vital ecosystem services.

Hence the correct answer is option 2) Soil formation

Q3. Which of the following is an example of a cultural ecosystem service?

1. Air purification

2. Timber production

3. Spiritual and cultural values

4. Soil formation

Correct answer: 3) Spiritual and cultural values

Explanation:

Cultural ecosystem services refer to the non-material benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, contributing to our well-being in ways that go beyond physical resources. These services include recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, and spiritual and cultural values. Spiritual and cultural values are especially important because they help shape cultural identity, support the transmission of traditional knowledge, and preserve customs and practices across generations. For example, many communities have deep spiritual connections to particular landscapes or species, which influence their cultural practices, art, and rituals. These values are often integral to community cohesion and individual well-being, highlighting the importance of preserving natural environments that support these cultural connections.

Hence the correct answer is option 3) Spiritual and cultural values.

Also Read:

• MCQs on Ecosystem Services

• Productivity in Ecosystem

• Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Recommended Video on Ecosystem Services