Logo: Species

Species

Species includes plants, animals, fungi, algae and genetic resources, which can be wild or domestic/commercial, for example livestock. Like habitats, species underpin a wide range of ecosystem services.

Important for the following ecosystem services:

Air filtration services

Air filtration services are the ecosystem contributions to the filtering of air-borne pollutants through the deposition, uptake, fixing and storage of pollutants by ecosystem components, particularly plants, that mitigates the harmful effects of the pollutants. This is most commonly a final ecosystem service.

Biological control services

Pest control services are the ecosystem contributions to the reduction in the incidence of species that may prevent or reduce the effects of pests on biomass production processes or other economic and human activity. This may be recorded as a final or intermediate service. Disease control services are the ecosystem contributions to the reduction in the incidence of species that may prevent or reduce the effects of species on human health. This is most commonly a final ecosystem service

Biomass provisioning services

Biomass provisioning services include the ecosystem contributions to the growth of the following: cultivated plants that are harvested by economic units for various uses including food and fibre production, fodder and energy; grazed biomass that is an input to the growth of cultivated livestock; cultivated livestock and livestock products (e.g., meat, milk, eggs, wool, leather); animals and plants (e.g. fish, shellfish, seaweed) in aquaculture facilities that are harvested for various uses; trees and other woody biomass in both cultivated (plantation) and uncultivated production contexts that are harvested for various uses including timber production and energy; fish and other aquatic biomass that are captured in uncultivated production contexts for various uses; wild animals, plants and other biomass that are captured and harvested in uncultivated production contexts for various uses. Biomass provisioning services are final ecosystem services (except the grazed biomass provisioning services, which may also be an intermediate service to livestock provisioning services).

Genetic material services

Genetic material services are the ecosystem contributions from all biota (including seed, spore or gamete production) that are used by economic units, for example (i) to develop new animal and plant breeds; (ii) in gene synthesis; or (iii) in product development directly using genetic material. This is most commonly recorded as an intermediate service to biomass provisioning.

Noise attenuation services

Noise attenuation services are the ecosystem contributions to the reduction in the impact of noise on people that mitigates its harmful or stressful effects. This is most commonly a final ecosystem service.

Nursery population and habitat maintenance services

Nursery population and habitat maintenance services are the ecosystem contributions necessary for sustaining populations of species that economic units ultimately use or enjoy either through the maintenance of habitats (e.g., for nurseries or migration) or the protection of natural gene pools. This service is an intermediate service and may input to a number of different final ecosystem services including biomass provision and recreation-related services.

Other provisioning services - Animal-based energy

Physical labour is provided by domesticated or commercial species, including oxen, horses, donkeys, goats and elephants. These can be grouped as draught animals, pack animals and mounts.

Other regulating and maintenance service - Mediation of sensory impacts (other than noise)

Vegetation is the main (natural) barrier used to reduce light pollution and other sensory impacts, limiting the impact it can have on human health and the environment.

Pollination services

Pollination services are the ecosystem contributions by wild pollinators to the fertilization of crops that maintains or increases the abundance and/or diversity of other species that economic units use or enjoy. This may be recorded as a final or intermediate service.

Solid waste remediation

Solid waste remediation services are the ecosystem contributions to the transformation of organic or inorganic substances, through the action of micro-organisms, algae, plants and animals that mitigates their harmful effects. This may be recorded as a final or intermediate service.

Education, scientific and research services

Education, scientific and research services are the ecosystem contributions, in particular through the biophysical characteristics and qualities of ecosystems, that enable people to use the environment through intellectual interactions with the environment. This is a final ecosystem service.

Global climate regulation services

Global climate regulation services are the ecosystem contributions to the regulation of the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans that affect global climate through the accumulation and retention of carbon and other GHG (e.g., methane) in ecosystems and the ability of ecosystems to remove (sequester) carbon from the atmosphere. This is a final ecosystem service.

Local (micro and meso) climate regulation services

Local climate regulation services are the ecosystem contributions to the regulation of ambient atmospheric conditions (including micro and mesoscale climates) through the presence of vegetation that improves the living conditions for people and supports economic production. Examples include the evaporative cooling provided by urban trees ('green space'), the role of urban water bodies ('blue space') and the contribution of trees in providing shade for humans and livestock. This may be a final or intermediate service.

Recreation-related services

Recreation-related services are the ecosystem contributions, in particular through the biophysical characteristics and qualities of ecosystems, that enable people to use and enjoy the environment through direct, in-situ, physical and experiential interactions with the environment. This includes services to both locals and non-locals (i.e. visitors, including tourists). Recreation-related services may also be supplied to those undertaking recreational fishing and hunting. This is a final ecosystem service.

Soil quality regulation services

Soil quality regulation services are the ecosystem contributions to the decomposition of organic and inorganic materials and to the fertility and characteristics of soils, e.g., for input to biomass production. This is most commonly recorded as an intermediate service.

Spiritual, artistic and symbolic services

Spiritual artistic and symbolic services are the ecosystem contributions, in particular through the biophysical characteristics and qualities of ecosystems, that are recognised by people for their cultural, historical, aesthetic, sacred or religious significance. These services may underpin people's cultural identity and may inspire people to express themselves through various artistic media. This is a final ecosystem service.

Visual amenity services

Visual amenity services are the ecosystem contributions to local living conditions, in particular through the biophysical characteristics and qualities of ecosystems that provide sensory benefits, especially visual. This service combines with other ecosystem services, including recreation-related services and noise attenuation services to underpin amenity values. This is a final ecosystem service.

Water purification services

Water purification services are the ecosystem contributions to the restoration and maintenance of the chemical condition of surface water and groundwater bodies through the breakdown or removal of nutrients and other pollutants by ecosystem components that mitigate the harmful effects of the pollutants on human use or health. This may be recorded as a final or intermediate ecosystem service.

Influenced by the following mechanisms of change in state:

Data needs

Global asset layer