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Biodiversity and ecosystem services: a multilayered relationship.

Georgina M Mace¹, Ken Norris, Alastair H Fitter

¹Centre for Population Biology, Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|September 28, 2011

Summary

Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem services at all levels, from regulating processes to final benefits. Understanding this complex relationship is vital for effective ecosystem management and policy-making.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Conservation Biology
Environmental Policy

Background:

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services is poorly understood, hindering policy development.
Existing frameworks often fail to integrate biodiversity's multifaceted roles within ecosystem service hierarchies.

Purpose of the Study:

To clarify the complex relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services.
To demonstrate biodiversity's critical roles across the ecosystem service hierarchy.

Main Methods:

Utilized the Convention on Biological Diversity definition of biodiversity.
Incorporated findings from the U.K. National Ecosystem Assessment.

Main Results:

Biodiversity acts as a regulator of ecosystem processes.
Biodiversity is a final ecosystem service.
Biodiversity is a valuable good subject to economic and other forms of valuation.

Conclusions:

Ecosystem science and practice must better integrate the complex role of biodiversity.
There is an urgent need for interdisciplinary ecosystem management science.
Collaboration between ecologists, conservation biologists, and resource economists is essential.