Chapter 8: Biodiversity and Terrestrial Ecosystem Services

 

On the left, a small blue butterfly with orange around the outer edges of its wings. On the right, blue spikes of flowers perhaps 1-2 feet tall in a meadow or grassland.
The Karner blue butterfly and wild lupine live in oak-pine barren habitats in North America. This habitat is characterized by natural disturbance in the form of fire and nutrient-poor soils that are low in nitrogen—important factors in the distribution of the plants that live in this habitat. Naturally fire-prone ecosystems are often the subject of fire-suppression efforts which alter their ecology and change habitat in ways that reduce ecosystem services and biodiversity (USFWS, public domain).

 

In Chapter 7 we began to look at sustaining aspects of ecosystems that are important for food production. In this chapter, we look at species and ecosystems and the full range of ecosystem services they protect. The environmental problems we have explored in earlier chapters put pressure on the living world and limit ecosystem services we receive from it. Sustainable use of the planet first and foremost should protect the living world.

Deepest appreciation to Dr. Gwen White of the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University – Bloomington for her thoughtful comments on Chapter 8.

Learning Outcomes

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

  • Understand what biodiversity is and how it arises
  • Describe the basic biomes and ecosystems on Earth
  • Understand processes for and obstacles to sustainable use of renewable natural resources  
  • Describe and explain major threats to species and ecosystems
  • Explain how biodiversity is conserved and where conservation does not completely succeed

 Chapter Outline

  • 8.1 Intro to biodiversity and terrestrial ecosystems
  • 8.2 Terrestrial biomes
  • 8.3 Wetland and freshwater aquatic ecosystems
  • 8.4 Sustainable harvest of renewable natural resources
  • 8.5 Threats to species and ecosystems
  • 8.6 Conserving biodiversity

Media Attributions

  • Karner blue and lupine combination © US Fish and Wildlife Service - multiple photos and photographers is licensed under a Public Domain license

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Environmental Sustainability Science Copyright © by Vicky Meretsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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