Ecosystem Services
A regulating ecosystem service where soil, rocks, and plants naturally clean and filter water.
Water Filtration
The process where natural habitats are damaged or eliminated, often due to human activities.
Habitat Destruction
A supporting ecosystem service that breaks down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Decomposition
A provisioning ecosystem service that provides wood used for building and making furniture.
Timber
A regulating ecosystem service where organisms (like bees) help plants reproduce, maintaining biodiversity.
Pollination
When a large habitat is broken into smaller, isolated pieces, making it harder for species to survive.
Habitat Fragmentation
The development of an ecosystem in an area with no previous life (e.g., after a volcanic eruption).
Primary Succession
A cultural ecosystem service that provides recreational enjoyment and human well-being.
Surfing
A regulating ecosystem service where plant roots and vegetation prevent soil from being washed or blown away.
Erosion Control
Non-native species that spread quickly and harm ecosystems by outcompeting native species.
Invasive Species
The recovery of an ecosystem in an area where life previously existed after a disturbance (e.g., after a fire).
Secondary Succession
A set of standards used to judge if a designed solution to a problem is successful.
Criteria
A regulating ecosystem service where ecosystems (like forests and oceans) help control temperature and weather patterns.
Climate Regulation
A harmful impact of human activity that contaminates air, water, or land.
Pollution
A regulating ecosystem service where plants (especially trees) help clean and purify the air.
Air Quality
Limits or restrictions (environmental, economic, or social) that make solving a problem more challenging.
Constraints