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Humans and ecosystems
Review your understanding of humans and ecosystems in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points:
- Humans get many benefits from Earth’s ecosystems. These benefits are called ecosystem services.
- There are four types of ecosystem services:
- Provisioning ecosystem services are the resources that people extract from ecosystems. These include foods and drinking water.
- Regulating ecosystem services are all the processes that keep ecosystems healthy. These include fungi decomposing waste and tree roots preventing erosion.
- Supporting ecosystem services are the foundational processes that underlie all life on Earth. These include photosynthesis and the water cycle.
- Cultural ecosystem services are the ways that ecosystems benefit people’s lives and traditions. For example, many people have a religious or cultural connection to an ecosystem. Ecosystems also provide inspiration, fun, and a sense of well-being.
- A loss of biodiversity can make ecosystems less healthy. This can make it harder for people to get the resources and ecosystem services they need.
Want to join the conversation?
- How do trees prevent erosions?(6 votes)
- The trees roots block off the area for erosion to happen, and it sucks up water so there is less chance for erosion.(28 votes)
- How can tree roots prevent erosion?(0 votes)
- Tree root systems help reduce erosion by holding soil in place. Even after being cut, the roots attached to the stump help stabilize soil for years. Reducing risk of landslides.(18 votes)
- What is an easy way to remember the 4 types of ecosystem services?(3 votes)
- PRSC
Provisioning Regulating Supporting Cultural(6 votes)
- what was the point of this video?(1 vote)
- The point was to learn about ecosystem survices(5 votes)
- ؤشى شىغ لاخيغ قثشي فاهس؟(2 votes)
- زه دا د ګوګل ژباړې له لارې واچوم نو هو زه یې کولی شم.(1 vote)
- I wonder if photosynthesis did not release oxygen if people would adapt or die out.(2 votes)
- I think it depends on how fast plants stopped producing oxygen, if it was extremely slow then maybe we would have a chance of adapting to having a technology to make it, somehow. and if animals didn't adapt then yes we would most likely die.(1 vote)
- thanks for this info(2 votes)
- Can somebody please explain the regulating ecosystem?(2 votes)
- harper this is damon(2 votes)
- what else does ecosystem services help with?(2 votes)