Ecosystem Services
Outputs, conditions or processes of natural systems that directly or indirectly benefit humans or enhance their welfare.
Types:
1)Provisioning
Services that people extract from nature
Eg: Water, air, Timber
2) Regulating:
Ecosystem processes that regulate natural phenomena
3)Cultural:
Non-material benefit associated with culture. Eg: Musics, dance of tribes associated with culture.
4)Suporting:
Services that sustain nature itself. ie the services that support other 3 services.
Adaption:
Living beings adapt themselves in accordance with their ecosystems.
Eg: Desert plants and animals, hibernating animals and creature living in extreme conditions have certain features that support their existence.
Biodiversity:
Variety of life on earth. It includes all living organisms, species and populations.
Types of Biodiversity
1)Genetic:
Difference among individuals of same species at a genetic level.
2)Species:
Existence of different types of species which have different characteristics.
3)Ecological:
Diversity at an ecosystem level.
Eg: Desert ecosystem, Savannah ecosystem, tropical grassland ecosystem etc.
Patterns of Biodiversity - Uneven distribution
1)Latitudal Gradient:
Latitudal angle affects the distribution of Biodiversity
Eg: More species in tripics due to good sunlight, suitable speciation time and predictable climate.
2) Species Area Relationship
Credits: Leo Vishnu Varthan
